sixteen

"In this way, the golden feather bird that was rescued by Zhi'er and Xiao Yuan by mistake is Your Excellency, I don't know if my guess is correct?" Ruo Xuan stroked his sleeves and carried the pot, and poured the empty jade cup full of clear wine dew again. They have already drunk many glasses of wine.

"Venerable Shengqing really lives up to his name, and the Golden Feather Bird is the little demon. Ten years ago, after getting out of the accident of the 'Emperor's Terrace', in order to avoid the pursuit of the 'Demon Lord', the little demon has been living under the Abyss Valley, and has never done anything to hurt the heavens and reason. ”

"Three years ago, those two Taoist priests discovered my hiding place by some means. Since then, a long pursuit has begun. I couldn't bear to harm those two Taoist priests, but I was hurt by them with Taoism. Fortunately, Zhi'er's girl rescued and took care of her, otherwise she would not have escaped death. ”

"There is still such an accident, but I still don't understand what the story you told has to do with the Great Dao Spirit Wine that you want to exchange, and what happened to the 'General State' ten years ago."

"Venerable Shengqing, don't worry, and listen to the little demon continue."

......

seventeen

"Rhubarb, rhubarb, what do you say is wrong with Brother Xiao Yuan? Zhi'er is so sad. Zhi'er lay in front of the window, looking at the rhubarb, in a trance, talking to herself.

Rhubarb tilted his head in the cage, not knowing whether he understood it or not.

I didn't know him all along, and although he indulged me in every way, it was like an unpredictable fog.

......

In 618 AD, in May, Li Yuan ascended the throne, the country name was Tang, Jianyuan Wude, the capital was Chang'an, and the history was called Tang Gaozu.

In June of the same year, he ordered his second son Li Shimin to send troops to attack Xue Ju, and in November of the same year, he pacified the separatist forces of Xue Ju's father and son.

The wolf smoke was temporarily stopped, and the war was at the beginning of the peace.

Due to years of war, famine and plague are raging, the country's fortunes are bumpy, and the people are struggling to make a living.

And Xiao Yuan's father and son, it was at that time that they stumbled and fainted in front of Chengfu in the velvet snow. At that time, Xiao Yuan was only eight years old, lying on Xiao Yuan's back, unkempt and dying.

"Hey, someone has fallen at the door of our house, how is this good?"

"Throw it away, right? Otherwise, if we are seen by the master, we are afraid that we will be trained. ”

"This ...... Isn't that right? You see there is a child who seems to be unable to hold on, and it is pitiful. ”

"It's better to report it quickly, please make a decision."

When the servant found the father and son who had fallen in front of the door, he hurriedly reported it, and Cheng Cheng agreed, and hurriedly carried the two into the house.

After some panicked care, he finally woke up the father and son. After the two woke up, they asked for some leftovers from the back kitchen, ate a few bites, and were brought to Cheng Cheng by the servants.

"Thank you for saving your life! Xiao Yuan's father and son, toothless and unforgettable! Xiao Yuan took Xiao Yuan and kowtowed to thank him.

"I can't thank you enough for the effort. What is the origin of your father and son? How can you faint before the gate of my city? ”

"Back to the Lord, we are just foreigners affected by the war, fleeing and living here, because the grain of rice has not been eaten for days, and I can't support it and fainted, but I don't know that I just fell at the door of Chengfu, and I was rescued by nobles. Bother the lord of the house, me and Xiao'er, let's leave. ”

"That's it, the child is still so young, your father and son, stay in my house to help with chores."

"Thank you, sir! We will repay death with death......"

At that time, Zhi'er was five years old and was very afraid of life, holding Cheng Cheng's thighs and secretly peeping at the two people kneeling in the hall.

She clearly remembered that Xiao Yuan knelt on the ground, lowered his head, and the ink eyes hidden in the shadows exuded a creepy resentment!

Zhi'er, who was still five years old, was so frightened that she cried on the spot, so that for a long time in the future, she didn't dare to let Xiao Yuan, who was already a domestic servant, get close, and in countless nightmares, she would break out in a cold sweat.

But as time went by, Zhi'er's fear of Xiao Yuan gradually faded. After all, she is a naughty and active little witch, and everyone in the house is very shy about this eldest lady, and she can only stretch out her claws to Xiao Yuan, the only one of the same age in the house.

Time is short, Xiao Yuan will become the steward of Shangcheng Mansion, and Zhi'er does not dare to ask too much about Xiao Yuan's past, after all, he is the only playmate in her childhood, the best person for her. The resentment and hatred in Xiao Yuan's eyes back then, she would rather believe that it was her illusion of being dazzled for a while.

Zhi'er had asked Xiao Yuan several times about his mother, but Xiao Yuan only said that his mother was killed by chaos when he was not sensible, and he was not impressed. But every time Zhi'er can see that there is a trace of loss and nostalgia in the corners of his eyes that he wants to deliberately hide, as well as suppressed hatred.

He has always hidden something from her.

But even if Xiao Yuan is a fog, he will always surround Zhi'er, work hard and take care of him in every way. Today's Zhi'er has to admit that her life has long been inseparable from Xiao Yuan.

He was so good that a strange thought popped up in Zhi'er's mind:

I don't care about his past, I only look forward to the future that belongs to us......

She had sketched their happy future in her mind countless times, looking at his busy back, which would always make her addicted, and a shy warm smile inadvertently appeared on the corner of her mouth.

It's just that the reality will really be as happy as she hopes? Xiao Yuan's strange behavior these days, as well as the pair of ink eyes that suppressed hatred back then, made Zhi'er feel faintly uneasy.

Zhi'er in front of the window shook her long hair vigorously, trying to shake these messy thoughts out of her mind.

In five days, Zhi'er reminisced about the past and spent the past.

Xiao Yuan's attitude towards Zhi'er is still like a master and servant, and he refuses to be like a stranger......

eighteen

The clouds were surging, and on the horizon, there were a few rays of light, mixed with muffled thunder.

The night is deep, on the shore of the lake on the outskirts of the city, the dry branches are swaying slightly, like the hideous ghosts with teeth and claws, the mountains on the other bank turn into a continuous black shadow, and the sound of beasts roars endlessly.

At this time, Zhi'er was alone, sitting on the shore of the lake, burying her face in her knees, and sobbing softly.

A figure appeared silently, approaching step by step......

Back at noon, Cheng Cheng held a feast, and the city government was submerged in a festive atmosphere.

What's so busy? The Gao family is too guarded with his eldest son and comes to the door to propose!

The Gao family is in a high position, and Zhi'er can marry the Gao family and the son of the Gao family to become Qin and Jin, which is a beautiful story that cannot be sought!

Cheng Cheng happily agreed, and the two families discussed a little, set the wedding date for half a year later, and hosted a banquet for Gao Taishou.

When Xiao Yuan told Xiao Yuan the news, Xiao Yuan was cleaning the dishes and chopsticks used for the feast by the well. He deliberately snubbed Zhi'er, and it has been five days.

"Does Zhi'er know?" Xiao Yuan didn't raise his head, and his surface was not shocked, but anyone could see it, his movements were a little stiff, and the dishes and chopsticks in the basin rattled.

"I don't know yet, how? You're going to tell her personally? ”

"Hmm."

Fortunately, even if the result can't be changed, at least not Zhi'er herself agreed......

nineteen

Zhi'er leaned on the stone pillar in the backyard, the transverse flute played softly, and the sound of the flute was ethereal, like flowing water.

She didn't know anything about the marriage her father had set for her.

It was Cheng Cheng who gave her the jade flute, and it was Xiao Yuan who taught her to play the flute. They are the two most important men in Zhi'er's heart.

"Zhi'er." Xiao Yuan's voice sounded from behind.

In the past five days, Xiao Yuan has never called her "Zhi'er", and has always been called "Miss".

"Brother Xiao Yuan!" Hearing that Xiao Yuan called her name again, Zhi'er thought that Xiao Yuan had changed back to her old appearance, and turned around happily, but what she saw was still an expressionless, even indifferent face.

Zhi'er's warm heart was immediately cooled again.

"The Gao family is too shou to bring his eldest son to the door to propose, and the lord has agreed to the marriage between you and the son of the Gao family, and the wedding date is scheduled for half a year later. The Gao family is a famous family in the imperial city, congratulations, you will be good friends with the Gao family for Qin and Jin. Xiao Yuan finished speaking with a calm face, unable to tell whether he was happy or sad.

"Bang" jade flute fell to the ground, and it fell into two.

Zhi'er ignored the obstruction of the servants and ran all the way out of Chengfu. Tears rolled down her cheeks, like jade beads with broken threads, splashing the smoke and dust raised behind her.

Xiao Yuan picked up the broken jade flute, looked at the direction where Zhi'er left, and sighed helplessly......

twenty

Hearing the footsteps, Zhi'er, who was sobbing with her head down, stood up, turned around and threw herself into the arms of the person behind her, and the tears of grievance were like a flood of lack of embankment. Here, it's Xiao Yuan.

Even if everyone in this world can't find her, except Xiao Yuan, who is the eternal exception.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, I don't want to marry into a high family, I don't want to be in a high position, why doesn't my father understand, what I like Brother Xiao Yuan! All I want is you! All I have to do is marry you and be your bride......"

Zhi'er cried loudly, buried her face deep in Xiao Yuan's chest, and wrapped her arms around his thick back, wanting to vent all her grievances.

His eyebrows were full of sorrow, Xiao Yuan's eyes were ruddy, he sighed helplessly, hesitated, raised his arms to hold Zhi'er, and patted him on his back to comfort him. In front of her chest, Zhi'er's tears melted into a damp warmth.

Silly girl, even if your father has to agree to you marrying me, can I agree?

......

The rain was falling, falling continuously, and shattering on the bluestone bricks.

The lights in front of Cheng's Mansion were bright, and the servants braved the night rain to look around the city for the whereabouts of the eldest lady. Two anxious figures looked eagerly at the rain curtain, it was Cheng Cheng and his wife.

Xiao Yuan's figure was gradually washed in the rain, carrying Zhi'er on his back, naked, and his shirt covering Zhi'er's body to protect him from the rain.

Cheng Cheng and his wife saw it, and they were overjoyed to open their umbrellas and step forward to greet them......

twenty-one

In Chengfu, by the lotus pond, the warm sun is warm. Xiao Yuan and Zhi'er snuggled up to each other in this quiet time.

He looked at Zhi'er's slightly flushed cheeks, and his heart couldn't help but ripple.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, Daddy has now agreed, what about you? May it ......" Zhi'er's face flushed deeper, and she buried her head shyly.

"Shhhh "I'll marry you."

"Really?!" Zhi'er's beautiful eyes melted into a happy smile.

"Seriously."

Xiao Yuan raised his hand and wanted to caress Zhi'er's cheek, but Zhi'er's figure gradually faded at this moment, dissipating and becoming invisible in Xiao Yuan's arms.

Xiao Yuan was shocked, stood up, looked around, and the scene in front of him suddenly changed greatly.

The firelight was everywhere, illuminating the sky, and the sound of swords clash and shouting of killing in the sky was endless, and the fighting was scattered, the chariots and horses were churning, and the earth was stained with blood and scarlet.

In front of him, Cheng Cheng and a figure with his back to Xiao Yuan confronted each other in the sea of blood in the corpse mountain, swords facing each other.

Suddenly, Cheng Cheng's figure rushed forward, and the bright cold light submerged into his chest, piercing the blade of his back, flowing with scarlet blood.

"No!" The thunder exploded, Xiao Yuan sat up from the couch suddenly, gasping for breath, and the thunder and lightning illuminated his face full of panic and fear in the dark night.

Just a nightmare......

A punch landed on the wall, several cracks spread quietly, Xiao Yuan's eyes drooped in two rows, and his face was distorted and struggling.

Really, just a dream......