The crackling fire was reassuring, but the cold wind still penetrated into the sleeves through the cracks in the window, and psychological comfort could not warm the flesh, Xu Zhongheng stared at the ceiling, and spit out a long blue-black smoke from his mouth. This is a smoked food that spread from the Western Regions to Middle-earth, and people privately call it "cigarette strips", but in the imperial court, it has a better and more elegant name-

"Your Highness, you have to smoke less antiquity. ”

That's right, the thing in the mouth is called light ancient, and the green smoke from the long cigarette stick is like entering the antique distance, and its taste is weak, so it is called "light ancient". When Xu Zhongheng was still the king of Shenyue, he began to smoke light ancients, which can recharge his energy and refresh his mind, and is a rare medicine in the world, but the loyal servant next to him always advised him to smoke less light ancients.

His name is Bayez, and he knows that he is not from the Western Dynasty when he hears the name, he was sold to the imperial court by slave traders in the east, and he has taken care of Xu Zhongheng's daily life since he was a child, and more than 30 years have passed in a flash. Bayez was a gray-skinned man, and the term "gray" may sound a little unclear at first glance, but anyone who has seen Bayez will agree with the term.

Bayez seemed to be suffering from some kind of disease, and his skin was divided into many pieces by white patches, like a man made of rags. His voice was as tattered as his skin, always leaking, and others were not used to hearing it, but Xu Zhongheng didn't care, he grew up listening to this strange sound since he was a child, and when he heard his persuasion, he felt kind.

"You're right. ”

Xu Zhongheng reluctantly let go of the light ancient.

He used to smoke lightly, and since he was sent to the border three years ago, the depression crushed him, and the light Gu took advantage of the weakness to grab his brain, and he had to admit that he had become addicted to this kind of thing. He thought to himself that if he took another breath, a puff of black smoke would erode through his charred lungs. He could feel his internal organs like withered flowers.

Lives are short-lived.

He blinked.

He was once a high-profile genius, and many lamented that his bloodline could not inherit the throne, otherwise the Western Dynasty would be glorious again - which made him complacent and self-reliant at the same time. As a result, his elder brother Dayan Emperor died of a sudden illness, he saw the dawn of power, and thought that it was the providence of heaven that allowed him to embark on the broad road, but the next moment he was beaten into the northern no-man's land.

Bayez persuaded him that it was better to live than to die, and he reluctantly accepted, but when he actually came to the North, he would rather die.

This is not a place for people.

The cold can destroy any strong-willed person, no matter how impenetrable the fortress is built, the cold wind can cunningly penetrate the house, and he wants to cry more than once, but the tears will freeze on his face, and he does not want to be like that.

"Another letter from the north. Bayez's voice mingled with the crackling of the fire.

"Show me. ”

The faithful white servant immediately took the letter out of his sleeve.

"Set off on the same day, visit the King of Shenyue, and ...... words," Xu Zhongheng groaned.

The letters of the guys from the north were always short and crisp, and I heard that it was because the ink was so precious that there was nothing extra in the letters. Friendly opening greetings, greetings, roundabout intentions, and pride...... None of these things will appear in the letters of the Northerners, who seek simplicity.

"Visit me?"

"There is no second King of Shenyue in the world. Bayez replied sincerely.

Xu Zhongheng touched his messy beard, he had been embarrassed for too long.

"What is the origin of this rumor?"

"As far as the humble government knows, Cang Yan has recently become king in the north, and he also made a lot of trouble a few years ago, but was suppressed by the Snow Champion. ”

Xu Zhongheng raised his eyebrows and commented: "He is a difficult person. ”

"Yes. ”

"But why did he want to see me?"

"I don't know what I do. ”

Xu Zhongheng stood up and almost stumbled, he hadn't exercised for too long, the fat that had been hoarded on his waist and his long chin quickly appeared in front of the bronze mirror, he couldn't believe that the sloppy man in front of him was himself. If former friends and supporters saw King Shenyue become like this, would they be relieved - fortunately, they didn't let this kind of person sit on the throne?

"I'll have to take care of it. ”

"Maybe it's time-sensitive. ”

"What do you mean?"

"I heard a knock on the door outside. Bayez pointed out the window.

Xu Zhongheng hurriedly walked over and looked.

He was sent to a small border city, which, according to the official version, was located on the border line between the Western Dynasties, that is, the low, dilapidated city wall north of the city was the territory of the Western Dynasty, and anyone who tried to force his way across the city wall was shown to be an invader.

But who can figure this out? The more you get to the border, the more blurred the boundaries become. And, can the low walls of the chest-length walls really defend against attacks from the north?

Snowy outside, and the bitter cold winds howling year after year attempted to overturn the walls, there were less than two hundred people in the city, half of whom were former servants of the King of Shenyue—who may still obey him, he did not know—and the other half were soldiers stationed at the border and their families.

The indigenous people have settled here for generations, and Xu Zhongheng feels that it is not appropriate to say that they are defending the border with Western Korea, and in his words, these people are simply defending their homeland.

"I see them. Xu Zhongheng whispered, as if he were a cautious assassin.

Two tall horses were exhaling white air, and on their backs sat two men, both in their snow-covered coats, who could not tell who was who.

"Your Highness, what should I do?"

Xu Zhongheng could probably guess why Cangyan would look for him.

A failed prince, a person from the north who provoked the Western Dynasty, what they can do is limited, and Cangyan's intentions can be said to be clear at a glance.

Xu Zhongheng unconsciously stretched out his hand, and after touching the light gu, he took a hard breath, his brain was instantly refreshed, and his body was one step closer to death-he understood.

"Let them in. Xu Zhongheng is not ready to deal with this sloppy appearance, let Cang Yan see his mental state, and things may develop in an unexpected direction.

"Yes. Bayez bowed his head and pushed the door open.

The cold suddenly poured into the room, and the room that was finally a little hot suddenly returned to the state of the cold cellar, Xu Zhongheng wrapped his clothes tightly, and the coat that had been sewn and mended no less than ten times almost lost the ability to keep warm, and he could only rely on constant shivering to generate heat. He walked over to the stove and added some sticks of firewood, and the fire and the sound grew at the same time, making him feel a little better.

He waited silently, wondering what he was going to say next.

It didn't take long for the first person to enter the house, then the second, and finally Bayez - this is nonsense, but it is also quite important. Whether Cang Yan is advanced or backward, Xu Zhongheng can spy on his character from this small move.

After the two men in snow robes entered the house, Bayez closed the heavy door.

"I have admired the great name for a long time, the king of Shenyue. The second man held out his hand.

He is a common word.

Xu Zhongheng held his hand, which was very warm.

"Cangyan?"

Xu Zhongheng thought that the first person to come in was to ensure the safety of the house, and Cang Yan followed up, indicating that he was cautious in his work, but Cang Yan left his back to Bayez, saying that he was clearly convinced that Bayez would not threaten his safety, and he was meticulous in his observation.

Bayez did not have martial arts, he once had, and was deposed when he was assigned to the border.

"That's right, the contemptible is the common word. He took off his warm hood, revealing a resolute face with a hint of cunning.