After three days of traveling, after seven months, Shen Ruoyu finally saw the small river he was familiar with, as well as the large endless woods beside the river. The leaves have fallen; Through the woods, the outline of the outer city wall of Peiping Mansion is dimly outlined, distant but still magnificent and indestructible.

Shen Ruoxiao galloped all the way, looking a little impatient, but then slowed down his horse's pace, while looking around at the winter woods. Then, he finally reined in his horse and pulled Nangong Qiu to jump down.

"This is where I usually practice," he said kindly, "and I'm finally home." Haha, I'm home—"

He rushed excitedly to the frozen river, fell headlong on the dirt, rolled a few times, and lay down comfortably, with his eyes wide open, looking at the densely woven bare branches above, and the gray sky between the gaps; The dry, languid sun came down and fell on his long eyelashes.

A breeze blew, raising a puff of dust and dirt on the faces of the three men. Nangong Qiu wiped his face with some surprise and dusted his body, not very comfortable; Shen Ruoliao took a deep breath with great joy, greedily tasting the smell of dust in the air; Overhead, a flock of pigeons flew by, piercing the whistle in the sky.

This unique atmosphere of Beiping, the feeling of home-

Nangong Qiu looked at his obsessive demeanor and asked, "Have you arrived in Beiping?" ”

Shen Ruoyu muttered, "It's here, I'm back." I haven't smelled the air here for more than half a year. In the south, there is no such dry and hard land, such a thick accumulation of fallen leaves. It's still early, and after a while, the fallen leaves are all withered, and when you step on it, you don't know how many layers there are, and at the same time it shatters, and your feet sink in. The ice was several times thicker than it is now, and there were fallen leaves frozen in it, freezing from the surface of the river to the bottom of the river, and the autumn wind could not pierce it. And when the north wind rises, standing in the wind, the hair is blown away, as if a knife is cutting at the face and hands, and it hurts and hurts, especially when the wind is mixed with goose feathers and heavy snow, and at the coldest time of the year, the meaning of harsh winter is poured into the neck, down the backbone and down to the feet. But you feel that your heart is hot, hot, and full of pride, so you want to roar in the wind, want to go against the wind, go to the thousands of miles of ice, the endless desert, the glacier-crisscrossed Hanhai, indulge in running, raise your arms and fly high, as if you have become a galloping wild horse, sometimes more like a goshawk, straight into the sky, fighting in the sky. -- When I was practicing my sword here, I felt that I was the wind, that the long wind from the north, and that the vast space between heaven and earth was my territory, and I could gallop at will. ”

Yuan Jue smiled and said, "You should be the autumn wind." ”

Shen Ruoyu was slightly stunned, sat up, looked at him and said, "Yes; It's supposed to be an autumn breeze—"

Yuan Jue said: "Let's go, it's not too early, we have to rush to the city before the sun sets, don't wait for the city gate to close, you can only sleep in the wilderness." ”

Shen Ruoyu stood up, pulled Nangong Qiu on the horse, and said, "Let's go; Go home. From now on, I will be able to come here every day to practice - and the autumn breeze. ”

"And me, okay?" Nangong Qiu begged: "You come to practice, can you bring me with you?" I love the aspen forests here. I haven't seen enough yet. ”

Shen Ruoyu smiled without thinking: "Of course! I'll take you to see enough, I don't care if you want to climb the tree. ”

The news of Shen Ruoxiao's return soon spread in Beiping. He originally wanted to stay alone with Lu Jiang for two days, but Yao Biao couldn't wait to run over early the next morning, as if his father saw his young son returning from a long trip, he touched him from head to toe, and said that he had changed a lot.

Shen Ruoliao introduced Yuan Hui to Yao Biao; Yao Biao has admired Yuan Tingyu's name for a long time, and he has already learned from King Yan that Yuan Tingyu is coming, and now he really saw the legendary Yuan Gaoren, but he coincidentally walked with Shen Ruoyu without a book, and he couldn't help but sigh. The names of the four gentlemen of the Poison Gate are also the same for Yuan Heng, and after a few words of talk between Yuan Gaoren and Lord Yao, he secretly sighed in his heart that King Yan had not raised his great cause, and he had already taken half of the talents of the country into his own hands.

Yao Biao asked Shen Ruoliao about his experience in the past six months; Before Shen Ruoliao could think about whether to say it, Nangong Qiu had already gushed out for him like a cannonball, and he spoke eloquently, many times more wonderful than Shen Ruoliao's real experience. Yao Biao listened dumbfounded, without saying a word; Shen Ruoyu looked at Nangong Qiu, a little helpless.

In the afternoon, Shen Ruoliao and Yuan Hui followed Yao Biao to the palace to see King Yan. The prince had already learned that he was back yesterday, and he was waiting for him to enter the palace to resume his life. The three of them walked to the gate of the Duanli Gate of the palace and were stopped by the guards' own soldiers. A young soldier stepped forward, stood in front of them, and shouted:

"Who?"

Yao Biao was slightly taken aback; He went in and out of the palace many times a day, and the soldiers knew him well and never intercepted him. He hesitated, then replied:

"Imperial Doctor Yao Biao, the prince has a call."

The soldier listened, but his expression did not change in the slightest, and he still asked sternly, "Who are the other two?" ”

Yao Biao said: "Shen Ruoxiao, Yuan Tingyu; The prince has a call. ”

The soldier's face did not change, and he said solemnly: "Lord Yao waits; Let me report to you. ”

With that, he turned around and ran into the door.

Yao Biao and the three of them had to wait outside.

After a short while, a man who looked like an officer passed by the city gate, saw Yao Biao, was surprised, and ran up to him and asked:

"Lord Yao? What are you doing here? ”

Yao Biao recognized him and said, "It turned out to be Lord Wang; I'm waiting here for one of your soldiers. ”

The officer was born with a large waist and a beard; This person's name is Wang Zhen, and he is one of the hundred households in the right guard of Yanshan under Zhu Di, the king of Yan, and when he heard Yao Biao's words, he asked strangely:

"One of my soldiers? What do you mean? ”

Yao Biao smiled: "Yes; If he doesn't let him go, how can I enter this palace? He went to report to the prince, and I have to wait for him to come out. ”

"Whoever does not have eyes is not so?" Wang Zhen saw that he was from the army, and immediately became angry, grabbed a soldier on the side, and asked, "Who was on duty here just now?" ”

He replied: "Lord Hui: Xue Liu." ”

"Xue Liu?" Wang Zhen was slightly stunned: "He's not new, he doesn't recognize Lord Yao?" Why not let it go? Report a fart. ”

He replied, "Lord Hui: I don't know." ”

Wang Zhen asked Yao Biao: "Lord Yao, who are these two people around you?" ”

Yao Biao replied: "They are all my friends, and the prince asked them to enter the palace to discuss." ”

"The last will be offended; Dare to ask the two adults with their names? ”

Yao Biao smiled: "You have also learned to be polite?" This is Yuan Tingyu and Yuan Gaoren, and this is Shen Ruoxiao. ”

Wang Zhen obviously had heard of it a long time ago, and immediately said respectfully: "It turned out to be two; The prince has been waiting for a long time. Three adults, please come in. ”

Yao Biao said: "That's not good; Xue Liu still hasn't agreed. ”

Wang Zhensheng blushed and said, "Don't worry, my lord, I will beat him with twenty military sticks!" Adults don't have to be like him, please come in, why waste time for him. ”

Yao Biao shook his head and smiled: "No, no; I must ask his own permission to enter this door. ”

Wang Zhen was helpless, and he was about to speak, when one of his soldiers shouted:

"Xue Liu is back!"

With the shouting, a man ran out of the door and ran to them as fast as he could; It was the stern soldier just now.

"Things that don't have long eyes, you have eaten the bear's heart and leopard gall, and you dare to stop these three adults?" Wang Zhen opened his mouth and scolded, went up to shine on the soldier's face, and slapped him twice.

The soldier's cheeks suddenly swelled, but he was very unconvinced, and said without humility or arrogance: "The little one is ordered by the lord to stop and interrogate all the people who enter the palace, report to the authorities, and only allow them to enter after obtaining approval." The small ones are doing what they are told. ”

"You're still hard-mouthed, don't you recognize Lord Yao? You're not new here, what are you pretending to be here to be stunned? ”

"Lord Wang, Lord Wang-" Yao Biao couldn't stand it, stopped Wang Zhen, and said with a smile: "You dissipate your anger; I'll talk to him, adults don't have to worry about this here. After the talk, the three of us will enter the palace to see the prince. ”

Wang Zhen glanced at Xue Liu angrily and said, "My lord is at his own convenience; Don't be like him. ”

"General knowledge? No, no," Yao Biao watched Wang Zhen leave, laughed heartily, looked back at Shen Ruoliao and Yuan Hui, and said with a smile: "We don't call this general knowledge; That's what heroes see, right? ”

The two of them looked at each other, not knowing what Yao Biao meant.

Yao Biao walked up to Xue Liu, looked at him, and asked, "Your name is Xue Liu?" Where are you from? ”

This Xue Liuzi is not tall, he was thin and dark, his facial features are upright, his black eyes are shining, he looks directly at Yao Biao without avoidance, but his cheeks are ashamed, because his complexion is too dark, he has become purple and purple, and said:

"The small ones are from Jiaodong."

"Do you recognize me?" Yao Biao looked at him with interest.

Xue Liu replied without hesitation: "Yes; Lord Yao who doesn't recognize. The little one just acted on orders and did not dare to be sloppy in the slightest. ”

Yao Biao smiled: "Who did you report to when you went in just now?" ”

Xue Liudao: "The little one went to find Lord Wang, Lord Wang is here, the small one was not found, and reported directly to General Tan, General Tan said, Lord Wang has a will, quickly invite Lord Yao and the two distinguished guests to come in." ”

"Can we go in now?" Yao Biao smiled and asked, "Then, the next time I meet you at the door of this Duanli Gate, can you just let me in?" ”

Xue Liu replied without thinking, "No." ”

"Why?" Yao Biao looked at him with a smile.

Xue Liumian did not change his color, and his words did not change: "The little one must act according to orders, and he must interrogate anyone and report it to the top, unless the prince has other wills, Master Yao and Master Daoyan are no exception; The small ones are offended, Lord Yao forgive me. ”

Yao Biao put his hands behind his back and smiled meaningfully: "Well said; But you have to be bold. Let's stand guard. ”

He glanced back at Shen Ruoyu and Yuan Hui, and walked into the Duanli Gate with the two of them. When passing by Xue Liu's side, Shen Ruoyu couldn't help but glance curiously at this stubborn ordinary soldier; Xue Liu was still standing there straight, with his back to the city gate, like a flagpole, and continued to stare intently ahead.