Zhao Kuangyin's throne was not difficult to obtain, but at first he was not very stable. Although everyone in the court did not dare to complain openly, there were many discussions behind the scenes. A military general with troops has seized the power of orphans and widows in this way, which is always easy to slander. And the generals outside the capital are already a little ready to move. Taiwei Li Yun was stationed in Luzhou, and was crowned by the first emperor for his meritorious service in resisting Liao. Now Zhao Kuangyin is the emperor. sent envoys to Luzhou, firstly, to listen to the rumors, and secondly, to invite Li Yun to enter the court of the Great Song Dynasty. Although Li Yun was forced to welcome the envoys, he hung up the portrait of Guo Wei, the first emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, after the banquet, cried and scolded and played drunk, and scolded Zhao Kuangyin for being bloody. And Zhao Kuangyin listened to the envoy come back to tell him, no matter how annoyed he was, he couldn't get angry, so he had to laugh at himself: "If you're drunk, you don't have to listen." ”

Although this kind of thing is not big, it is also pressed on the gourd and scooped, which happens from time to time, and only scratches Zhao Kuangyin's heart. But he had only just taken the throne. If you adopt an iron-fisted policy, you are afraid that it will cause more resistance. Moreover, with his troops, plus Zhao Guangyi, Murong Yanzhao, Shi Shouxin, Wang Xianqi and others, it is also time-consuming and labor-intensive to deal with the remnants of the Great Zhou Dynasty. So Zhao Kuangyin had to turn a blind eye. In such a situation, he had to be kind enough to appease Fu Yanqing, so that Fu Yanqing and Li Yun would not come together and the two heavy troops would unite, so he would not be able to deal with it. Zhao Kuangyin not only gave Fu Yanqing another mansion. And he was crowned as a Taishi, giving him the highest favor.

Zhao Guangyi can understand Zhao Kuangyin's approach, but he is always a little emotionally colorful. As he knew that picking up Xiao Tao would take time to prepare, but if he could. He really wanted to be like he was back then, a horse, a person. So he robbed the little peach from the woods to his own camp. But now, he can't. He is the younger brother of the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, he is the Marquis of Duyu in front of the palace, and he doesn't know how many eyes are staring at him, and how much movement his actions will cause. The higher you go, the more you can't help yourself.

The mansion that was burned down did not continue to be repaired, and Zhao Kuangyin gave Zhao Guangyi a new mansion. It is more splendid than before, and it is also close to the palace. Only Fu Xuechan lived in. And Mrs. Du, now the Empress Dowager Du, lives in the palace.

Zhao Guangyi sometimes went back to the dilapidated old mansion to see, Jing Shuyuan was the most burned, the courtyard was broken and ruined, and the beams of the room also fell, so broken that he couldn't smell a trace of the breath of the past. Every time Zhao Guangyi walks, his heart will be blocked and uncomfortable.

Shuyu's leg injury has not healed yet, and he still lives in the subordinate room next to Jing Shuyuan. Zhao Guangyi sometimes went in to sit and listen to Shuyu talk about what the situation was on the night of the fire, or the daily life of the little peach in Shuyu's mouth. Although Shuyu can speak well, he always speaks and always speaks, and he just talks about those words over and over again. But Zhao Guangyi seemed to have heard enough, and always asked Shuyu to talk about it from the beginning. He sat on the sidelines, frowning and listening thoughtfully, completely ignoring the strange surprise of his subordinates.

Xiao Tao's life in Huayuefang is also becoming more and more difficult. Honggu kept urging Xiao Tao to go out to support the field, and even said: "My aunt, I don't need you to accompany the guests, even if I just go out to dance at night." You don't know how many adults have already said in my ear that if you don't go out, you'll really turn your face. Now that you have a good reputation, you are always shrinking in this peach garden, and I am willing to let others refuse. ”

Xiao Tao always didn't say a word, only shrunk into the bed, and reluctantly smiled: "Hard work Aunt Honggu helps me block it." ”

After a month or two, Honggu finally lost her patience, and one night an official from the Ministry of Rites came to Huayuefang, Lord Qin, and asked to see the girl who sealed the fish bag from the fourth grade. Honggu was ruthless, took two strong girls to the little peach house, and pulled the little peach off the bed: "Girl, don't blame me for being ruthless. Even if you go to the front hall to sit with Lord Qin tonight and only drink two drinks, you have to go. "Shanghua asks for the number.

Xiao Tao struggled, in addition to horror in her eyes, there was also a trace of desperate inferiority: "Honggu, I can't, I really can't." ”

Honggu said funny and angry: "What's wrong with you, you can't?" ”

Xiao Tao was silent, looked at Honggu and bit her lip and said, "I really can't." If you let me accompany the guests, I will definitely be blamed. It's better not to let me out. ”

Honggu raised her hand: "Change the peach girl into clean clothes and bring it to the front hall." Dance a song for Lord Qin, or drink with him. ”

When the girl heard Honggu's order, one clamped Xiao Tao's hand, and the other went to pull Xiao Tao's clothes. Xiao Tao struggled hard, dodging, and her voice was eager: "Honggu, don't-" Before the words were finished, the top of the collar with the brocade mouse had been torn off by the girls with a snort, revealing a white low-necked middle coat, and the black birthmark on the neck was also very dazzling.

The girl who pulled off the little peach's clothes whispered, "Ah! I was also frightened and took two steps back, and after the birthmark was pricked with a needle, it was much larger than before, and it was so black that I felt sick to my stomach.

Honggu's stomach was topped, and she hurriedly took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and covered her mouth, looked at Xiao Tao and asked in surprise, "How did you get this?" ”

Xiao Tao picked up the ripped clothes, covered them on the birthmark, and pulled the corners of her lips helplessly: "It's like this now, I can't wipe it off, I can't wash it off." Which guest will like to meet guests like this? ”

Honggu was stunned there, looking at the occasional bruise under Xiao Tao's neck, and her heart seemed to sink to the bottom of the lake. It's over, it's really all over now. Just go out to meet people like this, and don't you make the guests disgusted and run away? Even if you cover it tightly, if you really dance, it will inevitably show up between the back and forth dances.

Honggu looked annoyed, watched Xiao Tao stomp her feet and scolded: "Useless things." After speaking, he walked out of the door in a hurry, and when he arrived in the front hall, he explained to Lord Qin again.

Xiao Tao slowly put on the top of the brocade mouse fur and wrapped it again, in this life, she is afraid that she can't do without this thing. It's okay to say in winter. What to do in the summer? The tattoo on her neck, like a brand, pierces her at all times, reminding her of all the painful past.

Honggu was really annoyed, so she raised a waste in vain, so she simply removed all the girls who served Xiao Tao, leaving only an empty yard for Xiao Tao. It was given by the emperor, and there was no way to take it back. The amount of food and clothing for others has been reduced. Xiao Tao had to be self-sufficient, and went to the kitchen to take out a portion of the meal, or the same ration as the next person, washing clothes, tidying up, sewing and mending are all their own work. Xiao Tao's body has always been unwell-recovered, and she is always weak and weak, so Honggu naturally won't ask Lang Zhong to recuperate for her. Now that these daily tasks have to be done by themselves, Xiao Tao's body is gradually unable to support it.

When Qi Zhengxiu went to see Xiao Tao again, it was early March. It was the season of fireworks in Jiangnan, but Xiao Tao was like a withered flower, her whole body was so thin that her skin was covered with bones, and only two hollow eyes hung on her face, and she occasionally turned around slowly, which could prove that she was a living thing. When Qi Zhengxiu walked into the peach garden, Xiao Tao was sitting on a chair under the tree with her eyes closed and half asleep. The inside of the house is colder than the outside, and the spring breeze outside blows on the body, and the warmth is warm.

Xiao Tao heard the footsteps, opened her eyes and saw that it was Qi Zhengxiu, and wanted to stand up, but as soon as she stood up, she fell weakly on the chair again, so she had to look at Qi Zhengxiu weakly and smiled: "Childe is here." ”

In front of Qi Zhengxiu's eyes, there was a very incongruous picture, the willow trees were spitting tender green shoots, the peach blossoms and pear blossoms were blooming one after another, and the little peach with a blue and gray face was withered, and there were a few strands of white hair on his head. How old is she? Qi Zhengxiu slowly walked to Xiao Tao's side and helped her into the house.

The house was cool and damp, and moss grew in some places. Qi Zhengxiu opened the window, and the warm air outside the house blew in, and after a while, there was a trace of heat. Qi Zhengxiu looked at Xiao Tao, his eyes were a little complicated, he didn't know what she had gone through, which could make her turn life into just gasping. It seems that she no longer has any joy in being alive except to catch her breath. After a while, Qi Zhengxiu looked at Xiao Tao and said, "Isn't it warmer?" ”

Xiao Tao nodded, there were more people in the room, and the window was opened again, which was much warmer. So much so that the brocade rat fur collar around her neck was a little hot, and Xiao Tao slightly adjusted the collar and continued to wear it.

Qi Zhengxiu frowned, and smiled at Xiao Tao's head: "You wait for me, I'll come when I go." ”

Xiao Tao nodded, watching Qi Zhengxiu's back go away, Xiao Tao leaned on the bed and felt a little sleepy.

When she woke up again, the sun was turning west, and Qi Zhengxiu, who was dressed in white, sat on the edge of her bed, watched her open her eyes, and smiled slightly: "Awake?" ”

Xiao Tao was a little embarrassed: "Did I sleep for a long time?" ”

Qi Zhengxiu lightly hooked his lips and did not answer. just looked at Xiao Tao fixedly and looked up and down.

Xiao Tao shrank her legs into the quilt, the evening sun still seemed to be very hot, Xiao Tao didn't know if the sun was hot or Qi Zhengxiu looked hot, and turned the collar around her neck again.

Qi Zhengxiu suddenly raised his hand and reached out to untie Xiao Tao's collar: "It's too hot, let's solve it." ”

Xiao Tao was so panicked that she moved back: "Childe, don't." He stretched out his hand and tugged desperately at the collar.

Qi Zhengxiu stopped his hand and looked at Xiao Tao's voice very deep: "Listen to me." Untie it. Qi Zhengxiu's gaze was very gentle, but there was an indescribable sense of stability, so he looked at Xiao Tao directly.

Xiao Tao's sudden heart gradually calmed down under Qi Zhengxiu's gaze, and after hesitating for a long time, he still let go of his hand.

Qi Zhengxiu untied Xiao Tao's brocade mouse fur collar, and soon pulled the collar of his middle coat down, and the defenseless Xiao Tao's whole body began to tremble, and the pitch-black tattoo was so unobstructed in front of Qi Gongzi, Xiao Tao had forgotten her shyness and blush, and just looked at Qi Zhengxiu with a pale face. One of his ugliest corners was exposed in front of the so clean Qi Gongzi, and Xiao Tao's mind was blank.