In the early morning, the damp fog outside Pingjing City was filled, and in the courtyard of the Shen family, which was more than ten miles away from the city, the smoke rose early. It is said that it is an annex, but in fact it is just a main house, three other rooms, and a small garden enclosed in the middle.

Qi Yuanjin put away his sword, rolled up his sleeves and was about to chop wood, but suddenly found that there seemed to be an extra person's breath behind him.

"Who!" Before the sound fell, the sword was unsheathed. Qi Yuanjin turned around abruptly, sent the sword out, and grabbed the person with a bright eye.

"Ziber's skills are still so good." Shen Zi'an gently pushed the blade that was forced to his neck away a few points, and said with a smile.

"Childe!" Qi Yuanjin knew that he was reckless, so he hurriedly put the sword back and said, "Qi is rude." ”

Shen Zi'an didn't care, looked around, and asked, "Qi Bo still practices here every day?" ”

"Yes," Qi Yuanjin said with a smile, "The most taboo thing in martial arts practice is intermittent, and besides, the muscles and bones are active, and it is easy to do things." ”

"But in my opinion, Qi Bo has been lazy recently." Speaking of this, Shen Zi'an tilted his head slightly to look at him, and a wicked smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"How?"

"I've been here for a long time, didn't Ziber just find out?"

Qi Yuanjin was stunned for a moment, and was really taken aback. As a guard in the palace, Shen Zizheng and Shen Ziheng's martial arts were all taught by him. Shen Zi'an has been weak since he was a child, and he can't afford to toss, since he moved to another courtyard, Qi Yuanjin has intermittently taught him a little self-defense and self-help and breath-holding skills, but he never expected that Shen Zi'an would improve so quickly.

"When did Childe come?"

"When Ziber made a flip and split the sword."

That was before a stick of incense. Qi Yuanjin was surprised and delighted in his heart, and couldn't help laughing loudly, "It's amazing! Amazing! It's just that why did Childe get up so early today? ”

"When he woke up, he got up." Shen Zi'an paced back and forth, dragging a long voice and replied, with the intention of chatting for a long time.

"Have you taken any medicine?"

"The aster hasn't been fried yet." Shen Zi'an took the sword in Qi Yuanjin's hand and was about to make a gesture.

"How can this work," Qi Yuanjin's face suddenly became serious, "I haven't taken the medicine yet, I ran out randomly, it's so cold in the morning, what should I do if I get cold?" Get back to the house. So saying, he went straight to the southwest corner of the courtyard, and paid no more attention to him.

Shen Zi'an walked a few steps and followed, "Qi Bo is going to chop wood?" I'll go too. ”

Qi Yuanjin paused suddenly, snatched the sword in his hand, and said, "Childe, listen to me, go back quickly." ”

Although it is a word for consultation, it is not an attitude of negotiation. Shen Zi'an knew very well in his heart that if he didn't know how to move forward, then it was possible to be carried back or tied back, Qi Yuanjin could do it, since this was the case, it was better to go back to the house and wait.

Seeing him walking towards the bedroom in a daze, Qi Yuanjin couldn't help but feel sour in his heart.

In the early years, after Shen Zi'an fell into the water, although he was barely saved, he also fell into a stubborn disease, Shen Xiao almost searched for famous doctors in the world, but after all, he still did not find a cure, so he had to take medicine every day to maintain. He spent most of his days until he was thirteen in bed. When he is riddled with diseases, even eating and living have become a problem, and dancing with knives and guns is even more extravagant.

When he was fourteen years old, Shen Zi'an proposed to Shen Xiao several times to move out and live alone in the name of recuperation. Shen Xiao had already noticed his youngest son's growing silence, and he was anxious, but there was nothing he could do. Thinking that he had never asked for anything, if this matter went his way, maybe it would really get better, Shen Xiao hesitated again and again, and finally set up a courtyard outside the royal city, backed by the village, and close to the water. Shen Zi'an originally wanted to only bring Aster over, but Qi Yuanjin persuaded him over and over again, saying that it was a girl's family in Aster, how could he do rough work and tiring work, so he forced himself into the other courtyard.

This stay is three years.

Fortunately, Shen Zi'an's body is stronger day by day, and his spirit is also a lot fuller, so he can be regarded as having an explanation.

When Aster brought the medicine to the main room, Shen Zi'an was leaning back against the wooden table and bowing his head to flip through the book. Seeing this, Aster was afraid of disturbing him, so she turned around and quietly closed the door, standing aside silently. She loved to see Shen Zi'an's contemplative appearance, whether it was the sun hitting his cheeks, eyelashes reflecting small shadows under his eyes and face, or the candlelight at night dyeing his body with a layer of orange. Or the blurred eyes when you just get up, the embarrassment when you drink the soup and burn your mouth, and the long shadow under the sunset.

No, she probably loved him all the time, in her heart, deeply.

"Coming?"

"Yikes!" Aster was in a daze, and suddenly heard Shen Zi'an calling her, her hands trembled, and the medicine spilled out, and she couldn't help but cry out.

Shen Zi'an hurriedly stood up and asked as he walked over, "Hot hands?" ”

"No, but I spilled a lot, I'll fry another bowl."

"I'll see." Shen Zi'an took the medicine bowl, glanced at it, and said, "There are a lot of spills there, I think it's good." You usually fry so much, I'm afraid you don't want to kill me. ”

"No......"

Without waiting for Aster to finish speaking, Shen Zi'an pretended to point at her with disgust, and then drank all the medicine in his hand, and his face was wrinkled, "It's really unpalatable." ”

After taking the medicine, and the confidence in his heart was a little full, Shen Zi'an flipped through a few more pages, but he still couldn't sit still after all. Yesterday's scene was still vivid, Shen Zi'an was very confused, and after thinking for a while, he still planned to go to Qi Yuanjin to talk about something.

"Zieber!" Shen Zi'an didn't walk a few steps out of the door when he saw Qi Yuanjin cleaning the courtyard.

Qi Yuanjin saw him come over again, and he wondered very much. In theory, Shen Zi'an is more cheerful than before, but he is far from being so lively, so he stopped what he was doing and asked, "What is there to worry about Childe?" ”

"It's not a bother, it's just ......"

"Childe just said it, can't you believe me?"

Shen Zi'an lowered his head and kicked the stones on the ground, as if he was in deep thought, and when he opened his mouth again, there was a slight tremor in his voice, "I had a dream last night, a man in black clothes desperately pressed me into the water, I can't escape......"

Qi Yuanjin's heart tightened, and he just wanted to persuade a few words, when there was a sudden knock on the door outside, heavy but not heavy, not slow or slow. Shen Zi'an's body shook violently, and he subconsciously turned his head to stare at the door. Qi Yuanjin hurriedly put down the broom, walked over quickly, opened the door and saw that Shen Zizheng was wearing a brocade cloak and standing alone outside the door.

"The eldest prince?"

"I've seen the master." Shen Zizheng smiled with a smile.

"What kind of wind blew Big Brother here?" Shen Zi'an had already stabilized his demeanor and said with a smile.

"Father was worried that you suffered from the wind and cold yesterday, so he ordered me to come and take a look, and bring you a few pieces of your favorite pastries by the way." Seeing Shen Zi'an standing still, Shen Zizheng smiled, "What? When the eldest brother came, he didn't invite him to sit in the house? ”

Shen Zi'an greeted him and said with a smile, "It's my rudeness, big brother, please come in." ”

The two of them entered the house and sat down, Aster served the meal, picked up the spoon and wanted to serve porridge to Shen Zi'an. Shen Zi'an grabbed her wrist and said, "Go to the stove room and get a bowl again." ”

Aster answered, and withdrew. Shen Zi'an picked up the bowl and asked while serving, "Big brother also eat a little, right?" ”

"No need, I ate it when I came."

"That's a pity, the porridge of the aster is cooked perfectly." As he spoke, Shen Zi'an put the bowl in front of him and drank it to himself. The charcoal in the brazier in the corner crackled from time to time, and the food on the table was also steaming hot, and Aster always liked to serve it when the porridge was still a little hot, so that Shen Zi'an could sweat a little after drinking it, and it could also get rid of some cold.

"Changjing asked you yesterday." Shen Zizheng said. Shen Zi'an didn't answer, but just concentrated on blowing the porridge cold and drinking it little by little. Shen Zizheng paused for a while, and then continued, "He is eighteen this year, and he is already on duty in Taifu Temple, and I heard that he is doing a good job. If you have a half-official position in the palace, you can take care of him. ”

Shen Zi'an was about to reach out and grab some refreshing side dishes, but when he heard this, he put down his chopsticks and said with a smile, "Big brother came today, is there something wrong?" ”

"Why am I here, you don't know in your heart?"

Shen Zi'an glanced at Shen Zizheng coldly, and then put on a look of sudden realization, and said with a smile, "Big brother is here to be a lobbyist." ”

"Since you know, I'll be straight to the point." Shen Zizheng said with a straight face, "The king wants to see you by name, because he values you." If the king likes you and gives you an important official position, even if it is smaller, it is good. You see, among the princes and grandsons, which one doesn't want to stay in the Pingjing Imperial City? Since you have this blessing, you should cherish it. ”

"Blessings?" Shen Zi'an lowered his head and stirred the porridge and said, "But I don't want this blessing." ”

Shen Zizheng saw that he was careless, and a fire rose in his heart, so he pushed the porridge bowl aside and asked sharply, "You don't want to be an official, so what do you want to do?" ”

"Be a teacher, a musician, or a business......

"Nonsense!" Shen Zizheng stood up suddenly, his face flushed with anger, "You're not afraid of losing the face of the Shen family!" The Shen family has been loyal and good generals for generations, and they should be loyal to the country, don't you say that you are famous and famous, but you still want to do these cheap things? ”

Shen Zi'an looked up at him and said coldly, "Officials and officials protect each other, tend to be inflammatory, the top is the lord, and the bottom is not the middle support, what is the loyalty to the country?" The eldest brother is quite loyal and good-natured, except for being an official, everything else has become a lowly thing. ”

"You!" Shen Zizheng raised his hand to teach him a lesson, and after enduring it for a long time, he suppressed his anger and persuaded him with good words, "Even if you are not happy, you should be more mature, have less temperament, and think about your father and the Shen family." ”

When Shen Zi'an heard this, he laughed angrily, stood up and looked at Shen Zizheng coldly, "After I fell into the water, my father not only didn't believe my words, didn't seek revenge for me, but asked me to settle things. Now I think about others, but who has thought about me? ”

"It's been ten years since you fell into the water, it's long over, why bother still being entangled now?"

"It turns out that the eldest brother has long been relieved." Shen Zi'an stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Big brother is afraid that I forgot the events of that day, I have never talked about it to others, so I will remind my eldest brother more today." When I was struggling in the lake, the eldest brother and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince happened to pass by that wood? I desperately shouted 'Brother save me', but the eldest brother only thought about how to please the prince and didn't want to pay attention to me at all. ”

Shen Zizheng gasped violently, and then his body trembled uncontrollably, and he pleaded in a low voice, "Zi'an, I swear to God, I didn't mean to ignore you. It was so late that day, and the prince and I were walking in the woods again, and I couldn't see clearly...... I thought it was just a kid frolicking......"

Shen Zi'an gritted his teeth and asked, "I still heard the laughter of the eldest brother, the eldest brother can't see clearly, can't he still hear it?" ”

"I ......" Shen Zizheng still remembers the despair when he saw Shen Zi'an lying on the bed dying that night. Although he heard his brother's cries for help, he did not pay attention to it. Shen Zi'an has always been so well-behaved and obedient, he never thought that this kind of thing would happen, he even felt that Shen Zi'an should have fallen asleep at that time, so since he was a person who had nothing to do with him, why should he spoil Gu Heng's interest for him.

If something happens to Zi'an, I won't live anymore. That night, Shen Zizheng's mind only had this thought in mind.

Seeing that Shen Zizheng was speechless, Shen Zi'an naturally thought that things were as he thought, and couldn't help but feel sad, and asked again and again, "The eldest brother has already married a wife and had children, but what about me?" What should I do? ”

"Big brother, if you pull me, I won't be like a waste person for the past ten years, and I can't do anything."

"Big brother, do you know how cold the water is in winter?"

As he spoke, Shen Zi'an suddenly felt a pinprick-like pain in his chest, and couldn't help but hold on to the table to try to relieve it. I didn't know that my breath was not smooth for a while, so I covered my mouth and coughed violently.

"Zi'an!" Shen Zizheng was busy helping him, but he pushed him away.

Aster took the bowl and wanted to go back to the house, but she heard a lot of noise in the house, so she had to wait outside the door. Now that he heard that Shen Zi'an was coughing breathlessly, he couldn't care about anything, hurriedly pushed open the door, ran to Shen Zi'an's side, and helped him beat his back. After a long time, Shen Zi'an stopped coughing, but his face was pale and his lips were bloodless.

"I'll go get a doctor." Seeing him like this, Aster almost burst into tears.

"No, you don't." Shen Zi'an looked up at Shen Zizheng, panting, and said in a hoarse voice, "Send off." ”

After Shen Zizheng left, Qi Yuanjin still found a doctor. The doctor observed the words for a long time, and prescribed a few pairs of medicines, saying that he was angry, his heart and blood were unstable, and he could rest for a few days, and it would not be in the way. Qi Yuanjin and Aster were relieved.

At night, Qi Yuanjin couldn't sleep left and right, so he came to the courtyard to relax. Who knew that the bright moon was already in the sky, but Shen Zi'an's house was still shining with orange light. Qi Yuanjin pushed the door and saw that Shen Zi'an was leaning on the head of the bed, in a daze.

"Childe hasn't slept yet?"

"Ziber didn't sleep either." Shen Zi'an came back to his senses and smiled at Qi Yuanjin.

Qi Yuanjin stepped forward to help him tuck the corners of the quilt and persuaded, "Son, lie down, I'll put out this candle for Childe." ”

Qi Yuanjin thought that Shen Zi'an would talk to him, but he obediently shrank into the bed.

"Qi Bo, have you ever felt that you have wronged yourself here?"

Qi Yuanjin was stunned for a moment, and then smiled, "Childe is stunned again." I watched you grow up, and if you go beyond the rules, I have always regarded you as my own child, so why should I be wronged?

Probably because it was late at night, Shen Zi'an's eyes were a little straight. He stared at Qi Yuanjin for a long time, and seemed to have made great determination, and finally spoke, "Qi Bo, you go and tell my father tomorrow, and in two days, I will go." ”