Chapter 46: It hurts
When Bo Yunxiu arrived, it was already like this, there were damn reptiles everywhere inside and outside the prison, and people had goosebumps all over their bodies. The wind rose in his palm, and he lifted the snake in front of him to both sides. Regardless of casualties, Bo Yunxiu went straight to the prison.
Shen Muxi had already lit the pillow towel, and the pillow towel with fire was dragging on the ground, confronting the snakes all over the ground. She wasn't in a hurry, the snakes didn't dare come near her, she was just doing it just in case!
But all poisons are afraid of things that are mutually reinforcing with themselves, Shen Muxi's blood is the antidote to poison, and although the snakes besiege her, they don't dare to pounce up.
Suddenly, the wind rose.
She looked up, but saw someone with red eyes, his face was extremely cold, he didn't give her a chance to speak, slapped away the snakes at her feet with one palm, and dragged her into his arms without saying a word, and rushed out of the prison in a hurry.
Hearing the heavy breathing sound in her ears, Shen Muxi was stunned for a while, she actually wanted to say that she had known that these snakes would come, and the reason why she didn't leave was to lure all the snakes out, and when the time came, she would catch the person who was manipulating the snakes, and so far she would be caught in a net.
But now, he clearly didn't plan to listen to her.
When he broke out of the prison, the snake surrounded him again.
"Lord Wang!" With a roar of rage, he swung his sword and slashed the snake wrapped around the pillar, and the poisonous blood fell quickly along the blade. The guards quickly rushed forward, swords raised, and rushed towards the snakes. Fortunately, today's snake venom is not as fierce as the first batch, and Rao will not fall into a coma immediately if he is bitten, which also gives everyone a chance to breathe.
Bo Yunxiu rushed out of the prison with Shen Muxi in her arms, and her feet didn't stop at all, until the light was safe, then her breathing stopped slightly, and she looked down at her coldly, "Do you have no long legs or no long heart, you don't know how to run in that situation?" ”
Shen Muxi wanted to break out of his arms, but the more she struggled, the stronger his hand became, and finally strangled her to pain, so she had no strength to struggle, so she had to look back at him with a little annoyance, "The prince is blind and blind, and he has personally tasted the pain of being bitten by a snake, so he doesn't rush in with a hot brain?" ”
"White-eyed wolf!" He gritted his teeth and didn't let go.
Huang Li stepped forward, "Wang ......"
But when he heard it, Bo Yunxiu's eyes glanced at him fiercely, "Don't go to the snake yet, if there is a snake that slips through the net, it will be asked for you!" ”
"Yes!" Huang ran away, thinking that Shen Muxi could detoxify snake venom, and the prince would be safe.
Shen Muxi snorted lightly, don't ignore him at first.
Everyone is in his arms, but he still dares to have a cold face, Bo Yunxiu only felt a nameless fire rushing towards his head, looking at her pinning her head, revealing a smooth neck, the arteries above were beating briskly, he really wanted to bite down, teach her to hurt, and see if she still had a heart.
"Let me go!" She said with her head pinched.
He pressed the fire, "Say it again! ”
"It's the same a few times, let me go!" Shen Muxi glared at him, "I don't want to be used as a target anymore, and I ask the prince to raise his noble hand and let me and other ordinary people live!" ”
"It was this king who saved you!" He gritted his teeth.
"I didn't let you save it, why should I accept your saving grace?" She was right, "Don't tell me last time, you saved me last time, but I also saved you back, you and I have long been even, and there is no conscience problem." ”
Bo Yunxiu was speechless, and while he was shaking, Shen Muxi quickly jumped out of his arms, probably in a hurry, and almost threw herself on the ground when she landed, but fortunately, he quickly helped her on the back of the waist.
Shen Muxi sat on the railing, panting with his pounding heart.
"What the hell is going on?" Bo Yunxiu asked coldly.
"The smell of the prison has become stronger and stronger these days, and I know that sooner or later I will have to do it." Shen Muxi sat upright and looked up at the man with a face as black as ink, "Not long ago, I asked Liu Zhutou, and I guess I heard it with ears, so naturally I couldn't bear it anymore." They desperately want to get an antidote, otherwise the venomous snake that is not threatening is no different from ordinary snakes! ”
Bo Yunxiu narrowed her eyes, her expression softened slightly.
Shen Muxi said again, "They are suspicious, they should have looked for them inside and outside the palace, but unfortunately they didn't find what they wanted, and if they delay any longer, they are afraid that the prince will serve them sooner or later, rather than sit and wait to die, it is better to fight to the death." ”
"Looking for what?" Bo Yunxiu asked.
"Medicine!" Shen Muxi glanced at him coldly, "The prescription of the antidote is not important, the important thing is the medicine introduction, but this medicine introduction must be made of extremely precious things, and it is not usually visible!" I hid quietly, and they might not be able to find it, so I arrested Liu Zhutou. ”
"How do you know that Liu Zhutou is not dead?" Bo Yunxiu asked again.
Shen Muxi gave him a big look, "If Liu Zhutou is dead, they won't come to me early to force a confession?" Just because I couldn't pry open Liu Zhutou's mouth, and I discovered the secret of Liu Zhutou's capture, the dog jumped off the wall in a hurry. Her face was full of sympathy, and she looked at him like a fool.
Bo Yunxiu coldly threw her gaze into the distance, not looking at her childish expression.
But someone still refuses to forgive, and there is a bit of the doctor's concern for the patient, "Lord Wang, sometimes people are stupid and not born, they are sick, and they have to be cured!" ”
As soon as these words came out, Bo Yunxiu pinched her arm violently, directly scooped her up from the railing, and pressed her hard against the pillar.
Shen Muxi was in pain, and her back hit the hard pillar, causing her to curl up immediately. As soon as he bent over, his forehead was just against his chest, and a strong and familiar breath quickly poured into the tip of his nose, and his mind was blank.
Her vision was blocked, and she couldn't see the change in Bo Yunxiu's expression, but she could clearly hear the heartbeat in his chest, so calm that it wouldn't change a bit because of anyone. She leaned back, her back pressed against the pillars, and then she looked up at the peerless face.
The wind swayed the lanterns in the cloister from side to side, and the dim light fell from the top, and he stood against the light, obscuring all the light she could see.
He suddenly lowered his head and pecked her on the lips, very quickly, like a thief, quietly, secretly, like a dragonfly dotting water.
"Doctor Shen's medical skills are excellent, he must be able to cure anything, and this king has to take you back!" His voice was hoarse, his hot palms pressed against her cold cheeks, and his warm breath poured between her lips.
Shen Muxi blinked, stood in place and said nothing, obviously close at hand, but his heart was far away. The next moment, she pushed him away fiercely, took a few quick steps, and wiped the breath from her lips vigorously, "The prince is polite, it is the duty of a doctor to treat diseases and save people." Right now, what the prince wants to do is to cut the grass and eradicate the roots, instead of pestering me here. ”
Bo Yunxiu raised her eyebrows, as if she was in a good mood, and the corners of her lips unconsciously rose slightly, "You don't need to worry about this matter, Liu Zhutou has already returned, as for Qianmian Langjun...... The king knows where he is! ”
"Where?" Shen Muxi was shocked, his brain suddenly suffocated, everyone was in prison, where was the emptiest place for defense? Breathing slightly, Shen Muxi stared at him angrily, "You...... You already knew? You ......"
Before the sound fell, she ran away.
After a while, Huang Li turned back, "Lord Wang, the snake has been cleaned up properly, and no one has been spared." All the snake corpses are collected in a porcelain jar, and they will be incinerated together when the time comes! ”
"Is it all arranged?" Bo Yunxiu asked.
"Yes!" "It's all going according to the prince's plan, but Doctor Shen ......"
Bo Yunxiu didn't speak, and walked slowly in the direction of his own courtyard, he had vaguely felt that something was wrong before, and even the secret guards who left the palace couldn't find the news of the Changshengmen, and the person pretending to be Dr. Liao was caught, and Bo Yunxiu felt that the matter was serious.
Fools should understand that Dr. Liao may be more than lucky, but when he suddenly comes back at this time, he must be used to attract attention. Facts have proved that this trick is very useful, whether it is the people in the government or the people who leave the palace, they will focus on extorting confessions, so as to catch the mastermind. As everyone knows, the real mastermind has quietly infiltrated the mansion.
Before Chunxiu arrived, Bo Yunxiu had already noticed something unusual, and he had already arranged it, but he was waiting for someone to come to him, but it was a pity...... The white-eyed wolf who was not familiar with it never planned to bow his head. In the hospital.
Wei Xian'er was blindfolded, her lips pursed, "What are you doing?" ”
The guards were surrounded by them, and one by one they had already drawn their swords and faced each other, as if they had been prepared, waiting for them to throw themselves into the net. Wei Xian'er couldn't see it, but she could hear the sound of drawing her sword, and her face was full of suspicion for a while.
"Yizhu, what are they doing?" Wei Xian'er asked, "What about the prince?" With such a big movement, why haven't you seen the prince? Where is the prince? ”
Yizhu said, "Master, don't worry, the prince should be in the house, let's go in!" ”
"The prince has an order, anyone who breaks into the courtyard will be taken down!" The guards drank coldly.
"Presumptuous!" Yizhu immediately became furious and reprimanded sharply, "Open your dog's eyes and see clearly, this is the side concubine Niangniang, you dare to move the side concubine Niangniang, are you not afraid that the prince will blame you?" ”
But this time, the guards didn't eat this, they were acting on orders, the order given by the prince himself, and Rao is side concubine was no exception, "Arrest them and wait for the prince to fall!" ”
"Bastard!" Yizhu was stunned, "Are you all blind?" If this matter spreads to the Eastern Capital and reaches the ears of the emperor and the queen mother, how many lives do you have to dare to arrest Concubine Wei? ”
Lu Guizhou listened outside the wall, and felt that this movement didn't seem right, "It's in the nest? "However, the dog hole is too small, and I have no power to restrain the chicken, otherwise I will be able to see the hole of the hole, the wall of the wall.
Now, he could only lean against the wall and listen to the movements.
The noise also alarmed Chunxiu, Shen Zhi slept on the soft couch in Bo Yunxiu's room, Chunxiu was guarding on the side, for fear that someone would take advantage of the loophole in the blink of an eye, but he could hear the movement outside, and he was curious, so he pushed the window and looked out through the gap.
It's really strange, isn't that woman some kind of side concubine? Why do the guards seem to want to arrest her?
Suddenly, Chunxiu quickly rubbed her eyes, and was stunned there, that Yizhu ...... After thinking about it, Chunxiu quickly pushed Shen Zhi, "Zhi'er, Zhi'er?" Wake up, something isn't quite right. ”
Shen Zhi slept in a daze, rubbing his sleepy eyes and sitting up, "Aunt Chunxiu? He looked around, "Where am I?" What are you talking about? Chunxiu ......"
"Shh Chunxiu covered his mouth, "That Yizhu has a knife!" ”
Shen Zhi's sleepy insects in his pocket all ran away in an instant, "What? ”
"It's the maidservant next to the side concubine, it's not right!" Chunxiu said, dragging Shen Zhi to lie at the window, the two of them looked out, from this angle, they could just see the strap on Yizhu's ankle, "The boning knife is not easy to bring, I often tie my legs, so this Yizhu must have a knife!" ”
Shen Zhi turned his head to look at her and rubbed his eyes vigorously, "Auntie, what did you say she was carrying a knife for?" ”
"Don't you notice that this servant girl is not quite right?" Chunxiu touched her throat, "Come on, you touch." ”
Shen Zhi was shocked, "She has an Adam's apple?" ”
"Male boars and sows, I can see at a glance, men and women, I can also see at a glance. Don't look at the same figure, the voice is similar, but there are some things that are male and female, just different. Chunxiu said eloquently, "This blind concubine is going to be unlucky!" Hey, if something doesn't go wrong later, let's run through the back window, do you hear me? ”
Shen Zhi nodded again and again, "I listen to my aunt." ”
"Good!" The two of them continued to lie down the window and look out.
The light in the courtyard was good, the guards were holding torches, and the cloisters were full of lanterns, as if they were waiting for this moment, as if the light of day could see everything clearly.
The guards didn't let her, and Wei Xian'er didn't move, after all, she couldn't see it.
It's useless for Yizhu to be anxious, the master is the master, and the slave is the slave, if she acts rashly, she will only be exposed faster. Seeing that the delay was too long, Yizhu picked up Wei Xian'er, "Master, let's go back first!" The prince refuses to see you, so let's take it slowly. ”
Wei Xian'er frowned, "Didn't you say that the prince was in danger?" ”
"The slave may have heard it!" Yizhu lowered her head, "Let's go!" ”
Wei Xian'er thought for a while, and suddenly pushed her away, "Yizhu, you are not such an imprudent person, ...... you in the end?"
"Catch her!" There was a low shout at the gate of the courtyard, and he stood with his sword in hand.
The guards rushed up, who knew that the cold light flickered, and the short blade was already on Wei Xian'er's neck, "Don't come here, otherwise your side concubine Niangniang will be splashed with blood!" ”
Chunxiu was overjoyed, and secretly shouted in the room, "Go under the knife!" Hurry up, don't hesitate! Ah......h
Shen Zhi raised his forehead, "Aunt Chunxiu, this is a life-saving talisman, can you go under the knife casually?" The fact that everything was revealed showed that this was a fake handmaiden. And the prince came back in such a timely manner, obviously he was prepared! ”
"Ready?" Chunxiu blinked, "It seems that this is the reason, then the prince already knows your mother's plan?" ”
"Mother's plan, he may not know, but he must have his own plan." Shen Zhi thought for a while, "That's why he waited for the bad guy to throw himself into the net, but he cheapened that bad woman, and he was blind and had such an exciting time!" ”
Chunxiu thought thoughtfully, "If you can scare her to death, it's worth it!" ”
"Bad guys are bold and can't be scared to death!" Shen Zhi poured a basin of cold water on her, "Aunt Chunxiu, what will happen to my mother?" ”
There was a knocking sound from the back window, "Zhi'er? Zhi'er? ”
"It seems to be Dr. Shen's voice!" Chunxiu hurriedly went to open the window, and at first glance, she saw Shen Muxi pulling the window in embarrassment, and was immediately stunned.
"What are you doing in a daze?" Shen Muxi gritted his teeth, "Oops, pull me!" ”
"Oh oh oh!" Chunxiu came back to her senses and effortlessly carried Shen Muxi into the room.
"Zhi'er?" Shen Muxi gasped, hugged Shen Zhi who rushed up, and looked at his unharmed son happily, "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay!" Scared the hell out of me! I thought he was using you as bait, and he almost scared my mother's soul away! ”
Shen Zhi tilted his head, "Mother, what bait?" ”
"It's fine!" Shen Muxi shook his head, his head was stained with moss, and his body was also covered with color, his face was full of black, I don't know if it was moss marks or mud stains.
"We're fine, it's not necessarily outside!" Chunxiu watched the excitement at the window again.
"Mother!" Shen Zhi said, "That bad woman is unlucky!" ”
Shen Muxi was puzzled, poked his head out and looked out, he didn't know if he didn't see it, he was startled when he saw it, it was really lively!
Yizhu held a bright knife, and her eyes were fierce in the firelight, "Give me all the back, otherwise I will kill her!" ”
"Mother!" Bo Yu rushed in from outside, and when he saw this scene at first glance, he rushed forward.
Bo Yunxiu's eyes were quick, and she quickly grabbed Bo Yu's shoulders and brought him back directly, "If you don't want your mother to die, don't move!" After speaking, he raised his head and stared at Yizhu coldly.
"Thousand-faced Lang-kun!" Huang Li pointed directly at the cold sword, "Let go of Concubine Wei!" ”
Wei Xian'er burst into tears, trembling with fright, and tremblingly stroked the hand holding her neck, "Who are you?" Why do this to me? What about Yizhu? What happened to Yizhu? ”
"It is said that the side concubine who leaves the palace is kind-hearted, gentle and kind, it turns out that what she said is true, but she still thinks about her own slave at this time?" Yizhu sneered, but the voice was no longer Yizhu's voice, but a strange man's voice.
Bo Yunxiu let go of Bo Yu and glanced at Sun Xian, "Look at him!" ”
Sun Xian hurriedly hugged Bo Yu, lest Bo Yu be impulsive again, and it would be bad to hurt Concubine Wei at that time.
However, the difference between the faces is very similar, if they were not prepared, they would be as stupid and dull as Wei Xian'er, and even the people who get along with each other all day will not be able to distinguish the real from the fake.
Bo Yunxiu stood with her hands in her hands, her cold face overflowed with unconcealable coldness, and her thin lips only prostrated four words, "She lives, you live." ”
"I can't see it, I am so affectionate and righteous from the king, I heard that there are many beautiful girls in the backyard of the palace, although this one looks very good, but this grace has been around for several years, and it should be tired, right?" Qianmian Langjun shook his head with a sigh, "This love is unswerving, it's really touching!" ”
The knife moved a little closer to Wei Xian'er's neck, and a crimson color flowed down her snow-white neck.
"Mother!" Bo Yu was anxious, crying and shouting, "Dad, you let him stop, I want my mother." Dad, save my mother, don't let him hurt my mother, Dad, promise him quickly, hurry up and promise him! If you let go of my mother, my father will promise you everything! ”
Shen Muxi stood in the room, through a gap in the window, but he could clearly see Bo Yunxiu's hands, clenched into fists. He must be furious to the extreme, right? The woman she loves the most is pinched by someone who holds life and death, as if she has grasped his weakness. What Thousand-Faced Langjun wants, Shen Muxi knows it, she thinks, Bo Yunxiu should also understand.
Will he, will he agree?
"What do you want?" Bo Yunxiu asked coldly.
Thousand-faced Langjun lowered his eyebrows and looked at Wei Xian'er, who was sobbing low in his arms, and smiled evilly and cruelly, "I want Shen Muxi!" ”
His eyes were dark, and Bo Yunxiu blurted out, "Don't think!" ”
Two words, loud and crisp, it can be seen that there is no hesitation.
"So there's no room for negotiation?" Qianmian Langjun sighed, and the blood on Wei Xian'er's neck flowed more, but he was a martial artist, and his control over his strength was naturally excellent. Bleeding does not mean that there is a fear of life, it is just that the skin is broken, and the knife perfectly avoids the blood vessels and arteries in Wei Xian'er's neck, "It seems that in the heart of the prince, the side concubine is not so important!" ”
"I promise you!" Bo Yu shouted at the top of his voice, "Let go of my mother, I'll hand over Shen Muxi to you!" ”
"Oh, damn boy!" Chunxiu was angry, "It's really ruthless, when will it be his turn to call other people's lives?" I'm so! ”
Shen Zhi "shh Let's read on. ”
Chunxiu held her breath and reached out to touch the pig-killing knife behind her waist, Bo Yu's little king and eight calves dared to talk nonsense again, she couldn't guarantee that she could suppress the fire in her heart.
I only heard the thousand-faced Langjun laugh dryly, "But the little boy is deeply affectionate and righteous, and the blue is better than the blue." Lord, what do you say? ”
"Lord Wang!" Wei Xian'er suddenly shouted, her tone was sad, but it was mixed with excited feelings, "How can the prince be so noble that he can be controlled by others?" The concubine has no ability, but the concubine loves the prince deeply, and will never allow anyone to threaten the prince and make the prince embarrassed! Lord Wang, take good care of Yu'er, the concubine will go first! ”
Saying that it was too late, Wei Xian'er suddenly clasped the hand of the thousand-faced Langjun holding the knife.
"Don't!" Huang Li exclaimed.
Qianmian Langjun was also frightened, and as soon as he let go of his hand, the knife changed from his right hand to his left hand, but fortunately, Wei Xian'er's eyes couldn't see it, and he didn't find the right head when he wanted to commit suicide, so he avoided the result of blood splashing. If Wei Xian'er died, then he would have no bargaining chips, let alone catching Shen Muxi, even if he got out, it would be a problem.
But in the blink of an eye, Bo Yunxiu had already made a move, and no one could see clearly how Bo Yunxiu made a move, and when everyone came to their senses, Qianmian Langjun was pushed away with a palm, and his body fell heavily into the corner.
In the flick of his sleeves, Bo Yunxiu had already snatched the sword in the hand of a guard, and pointed coldly at the thousand-faced Langjun, "This king hates to be threatened the most in this life!" ”
The corners of Qianmian Langjun's lips were overflowing with blood, his face was pale, Bo Yunxiu's palm really broke his two ribs, and now he even felt unbearable pain when he breathed, "Liwang, good means!" ”
Wei Xian'er sat on the ground, clutching her bloody neck, and her body gradually collapsed.
"Mother!" Bo Yu broke away from Sun Xian, rushed to Wei Xian'er's side, and instantly cried, "Mother? Mother, how are you? Come on, call the doctor, call the doctor! Mother, don't scare me, Yu'er is scared ......"
The child's hysterical crying will make anyone feel sad when they hear it.
Especially mothers, where can they hear their children crying.
Shen Muxi dusted off the mess on his head, pulled a few wisps of moss on the ground, and finally let out a long sigh and walked slowly outside.
"Are you going to save someone?" Chunxiu crossed her waist, "You forgot how she treated you before?" Doctor Shen, Shen Muxi, are you brainbroken? The woman was a ...... Zhi'er, what do you mean by that? ”
Shen Zhi cautiously reminded, "The city government is very deep, the mind is very heavy, and it is very ruthless!" ”
"Yes!" Chunxiu was categorical, quickly blocked the door, and didn't let Shen Muxi go out, "Just like that, you deserve to die." Don't look at her now that she is going to die or live, when she is really well, she has to think of tossing you and Zhi'er again! Don't help today! ”
"I'm going to exchange her life for me and Zhi'er's freedom!" Shen Muxi patted Chunxiu's shoulder, "There are so many people outside, as long as Bo Yunxiu can nod, he will leave His Royal Highness in a dignified manner, it will be difficult for him to go back on his word, right?" ”
Chunxiu was stunned, "Can you still do this?" ”
Shen Zhi nodded again and again, "Aunt Chunxiu, you hurry up and get out of the way, so that my mother and I can stay and don't have to go to the Eastern Capital anymore!" ”
"Hey, it's done!" Chunxiu hurriedly dodged away, pulled out the pig-killing knife and followed behind Shen Muxi, "Let's go out together!" ”
Shen Muxi opened the door and went out, watching Huang Li quickly lead people forward, directly tied up the thousand-faced Langjun, tore off the leather surface, revealing the original face of the thousand-faced Langjun, it was a plain face, the facial features were as light as a plane, no wonder everyone looked like him, the leather surface covered his face, as if reshaping the facial features.
She stood in the corridor, Bo Yunxiu had already abandoned the sword, and was about to walk towards Wei Xian'er at this moment.
"I'm a doctor!" Shen Muxi said, "I'll help you save Concubine Wei." ”
Bo Yunxiu's face was neither sad nor joyful, looking at her extremely calmly, no one could guess what he was thinking at the moment.
"You set me free, and I will return your concubine, and I won't leave even half a scar in my custody." When Shen Muxi said this, his eyes stared at him directly, and his heart was a little complicated, as if he had shallow expectations.
What exactly she expected, she herself can't say.
"Doctor Shen!" Bo Yunxiu didn't speak, but Wei Xian'er opened her voice. She covered her neck, her eyes were still covered with gauze, and her voice was extremely mournful and weak, as if she would lose her breath if she didn't pay attention, "I respect you as a doctor, but now I am very disappointed in you, I still say that, I will never let myself become a threat to the prince." It's okay if you save me, or if you don't, the prince won't agree to any of your requests. ”
Blood, oozing from her fingers, stained her plain white hands, was clearly not so serious, but under the color contrast, it was particularly shocking.
Bo Yunxiu didn't speak, walked over with a cold face and picked up the dying Wei Xian'er from the ground.
Shen Muxi thought, Wei Xian'er wants to gain a good impression in front of Bo Yunxiu, why should he be a bad guy to fulfill her? Anyway, this injury is not a big deal, at most it will leave a scar on the neck, and this kind of bleeding will not kill anyone.
Thinking of this, she turned around and shouted into the house, "Zhi'er, Chunxiu, let's go!" "Since there is nothing to talk about, there is no need to waste lips and tongues, and then we will find a way.
The door opened, Shen Zhi's eyes widened in shock, and he screamed, "Mother, be careful!" ”
Shen Muxi turned his head suddenly, and a black shadow rushed coldly.
There was a sudden sharp pain in the lower abdomen, it was Bo Yu who bumped into it with all his strength, Shen Muxi was completely defenseless, and he was standing on the steps, and was directly knocked over by the sudden force, and behind him was a hard and sharp bluestone step.
In a trance, she seemed to hear the sound of broken bones, and the severe pain made people unconscious, and in an instant, she felt that the world was spinning. The lanterns in the cloister were blown by the wind and shook even more.
"Shen Muxi!"
"Mother!"
"Doctor Shen!"
Hurt......