Li Ruiqing vaguely remembers that when she first met Zhao Xiangling, she was only six years old.

At that time, Zhao Xiangling was small, and his appearance was not open, which was far more endearing than now.

When Xia Rongyue said that she was going to take her home, Li Ruiqing was still a little excited in his heart, thinking that he was going to have a younger sister.

Especially this sister, who snatched it from Zhao Xiangwan, felt more and more happy.

When he left the palace, seeing Zhao Xiangwan chasing after him from afar, gently wiping his tears, Li Ruiqing decided that he must treat Zhao Xiangling well and ask her to forget that there is a brother Xiangwan.

But this plan came to naught almost when Zhao Xiangling lived in his house for a few days.

She tore up her carefully collected books, burned down her house, cut off her clothes, and made a fuss all over the Sword Shadow Pavilion that everyone knew that there was a man who liked her.

Li Ruiqing felt that he didn't want a sister in his life. Especially Zhao Xiangling.

When Zhao Xiangling fell out, Li Ruiqing began to stay away from Zhao Xiangling.

He avoided her, didn't want to see her, and even turned around when he saw her from a distance.

It didn't take too long for Li Ruiqing to find that he couldn't see Zhao Xiangling.

She seemed to disappear from her sight, and from everyone's sight.

Finally, I saw her in a small corner of the study.

When she was found, she cried fiercely. So Li Ruiqing understood that she was homesick.

But she didn't say anything, trying to annoy people by causing trouble for herself, and then let her go home.

I don't know if such an idea is infuriating or ridiculous.

So Li Ruiqing tried to treat her better, better, and slowly let her adapt to the life of the Sword Shadow Pavilion.

But she still wanted to go home.

Eventually, she went back, on a snowy day.

I heard from her again, but it didn't take long.

That day, Li Luo hurriedly came to find Li Ruiqing, saying that something had happened in the palace.

Li Ruiqing simply packed up his little sword and followed Li Luo out of the door.

They did not go to the imperial palace, but to a palace in the capital.

Li Ruiqing will never forget the scene when he and Li Luo just stepped on the city wall.

Thousands of arrows rained down one after another, only towards the small figure below.

The red clothes, a small lump, coincided with the person in his memory, no difference.

At that moment, Li Ruiqing felt that it was half dark, and he knew that it was too late to rescue him at this time, and he had no way to save Zhao Xiangling.

He could only watch her die under the rain of arrows.

Li Ruiqing's eyes widened, feeling heartbroken, and he opened his mouth to say something, but he didn't say anything.

Li Luo stretched out his hand and blocked his eyes.

A loud cry made his heart tighten, and he saw the scene below him clearly, but it was already full of blood.

It's not Zhao Xiangling who died.

She was protected under her body, and she was well protected, and not a single arrow was hit.

For some reason, a touch of happiness rose in Li Ruiqing's heart. He thought, no matter who died, fortunately it wasn't to zero.

However, it was the uncle who died who stayed by Zhao Xiangling's side all the year round. Like his father, he loves white clothes, and he is the only person who has often visited Zhao Xiangling over the years.

Li Ruiqing knew that this person was very important to Zhao Xiangling.

His name is Lin Xiuyan, and he is Zhao Xiangling's henchman and Zhao Xiangling's favorite person.

At that time, Li Ruiqing didn't know that he was actually a henchman arranged by the enemy by the side of the Southern Emperor, and he didn't even know that he had half of the credit for letting Zhao Xiangling fall into such a situation.

He only knew that Lin Xiuyan protected Zhao Xiangling and used his life.

There is no longer half a complete piece of good meat behind him, and the whole person is like a hedgehog, and he has long lost his breath.

And Zhao Xiangling was crying beside him, just like when she told herself in the past that she wanted to go home.

At that moment, Li Ruiqing really understood why Zhao Xiangling was so tricky and willful.

She really just needs attention, and she does all this ridiculous behavior just to have someone look at her.

After quelling the rebellion, Li Ruiqing went to see Zhao Xiangling.

She was very wooden, staying in the quilt, leaning against the wall, the whole person was stupid, and even the aura in her eyes was gone.

Li Ruiqing looked at her like this, and felt very sad.

He stepped forward and whispered, "To zero? ”

Zhao Xiangling raised his head and saw that it was him, and suddenly cried: "Brother Ruiqing." ”

She whimpered, lying in Li Ruiqing's arms, wetting his clothes.

Li Ruiqing lowered his head and patted her back gently: "Cry, if it feels better to cry." ”

"Brother Ruiqing." Zhao Xiangling cried, "Uncle Xiuyan, he's dead." ”

"I know." Li Ruiqing wiped her tears, "If he knew that you were crying like this, he would be very sad." ”

Zhao Xiangling was still crying, sobbing and very uncomfortable.

After a while, she stopped crying and asked, "Brother Ruiqing, do you also hate Xiang Zero?" ”

Li Ruiqing was slightly stunned, not knowing why she suddenly asked like this. Thinking of Zhao Xiangling's current mood, he smiled lightly and comforted: "How come, I like Xiang Ling very much, Xiang Ling has always been a likable little girl." ”

When Zhao Xiangling heard this, for some reason, he cried again, and Li Ruiqing persuaded him for a long time before he stopped.

She sobbed and said, "The people who say this are all liars, so is Uncle Xiuyan, and so are you." ”

Li Ruiqing became more and more incomprehensible. He didn't know about Lin Xiuyan's rebellion, so how could he know the meaning of Zhao Xiangling's words?

He could only solemnly say: "No, I will never lie to you." ”

Zhao Xiangling didn't believe it: "The people who say this are all not credible. ”

"Everyone may lie to you, but I won't." Li Ruiqing said firmly, "Xiang Zero, you have to believe me, just like I will believe in you." ”

Zhao Xiangling raised his eyes, and there was still water in his eyes: "Why?" ”

"That's my promise to you." Li Ruiqing said, "I never break my word. ”

At least, they will never break their word to you.

Zhao Xiangling pursed his lips, but did not refute his words after all.

Li Ruiqing lowered his eyes, remembering what he and his father said that day on the city wall, looking at Zhao Xiangling's blood-stained robe......

"She is the only princess in the south, and such a coup will be commonplace for her. She is in the whirlpool of power, all the cruelty, all the tragedy, all the sinister and dark of the heart, she will come into contact with it, experience it herself, and become more and more numb, more and more desperate. ”

"I'll protect her."

"Then you need to be strong."

"I will."

Looking at the top of Zhao Xiangling's pressed head, he couldn't help but raise his hand to touch her hair, and said in a low voice, "I will." ”

Sooner or later, I will become strong and will protect you from going through this again, and I will not let you feel the darkness and sinister in the whirlpool of power.