±?μμμμμ Zhao Kuangyi did not mention it to Zhao Kuangyin, but directly sued Emperor Chai Rong for five days of leave, only saying that there was something important to deal with. Zhao Kuangyi has made many military exploits, and Chai Rong has especially rewarded him. Believing in his arrangement, he promised him five days. Zhao Kuangyi brought five agile personal attendants. Beat the horse and galloped all the way in the direction of Jinling.

When the news of Chuzhou's defeat reached Jinling, the court was desolate. The geographical location of Chuzhou and the canal as a barrier have all been captured, and the nearby cities have no barriers to rely on. Everyone's hearts were panicked, and the fate of Datang seemed to have seen one or two, sadness, from top to bottom, enveloping the entire Jinling.

Emperor Li Jing locked himself in the Taimiao, looking at the tablet of his ancestors, a little numb. This country, he doesn't know how long he can hold it? It's not that he doesn't work hard, and it's not that he doesn't have good intentions, but why did it come to this point? He couldn't figure it out.

Qi Zhengxiu stayed in the bamboo forest. Didn't come out for two days. Seeing that the land of Datang was as dilapidated as a cannibalized mulberry leaf, his heart ached indescribably. He had already entered the East Palace to see the prince, and he was afraid that he would not wait until the end of the month, so he would have to do it as soon as possible.

The subordinates still went to Huayuefang every day to worship according to Qi Zhengxiu's previous instructions. took Xiao Tao out, but Qi Zhengxiu sat in the bamboo forest and didn't come out, and told him not to let anyone go in to disturb him, so Xiao Tao had to wait outside and make some refreshments for people to send in. Listening to Xu Kai, Zhang Yanqing, who died in Chuzhou, was a close friend of Gongzi Qi, so it was no wonder that Gongzi was so sad.

By the afternoon of the next day. Xiao Tao was a little worried, and secretly brought the tea tray in, if everything was okay with Gongzi Qi, she would pretend to be the maid who delivered the tea, put the tea down and left.

The bamboo forest is still as warm as spring, Xiao Tao walked through a few paths and went around to the stone table behind the bamboo forest, where Qi Gongzi was sitting on the stone bench on the side, and his side face outlined a good-looking outline. It's just that the stubble is a little blue, and the whole person is a little depressed.

Xiao Tao breathed a sigh of relief, it was okay, Xiao Tao put the tea tray on the stone table. Just as he was about to leave, Qi Gongzi opened his mouth lightly: "If you come, just sit down for a while and then leave." ”

Xiao Tao was stunned for a moment, and unconsciously said "Huh", she didn't make a sound, how could Qi Gongzi know that it was her? Qi Zhengxiu tugged at the corners of his mouth: "Ordinary subordinates won't come to my side to breathe a sigh of relief." "The person who cares about him so much, except for Xiao Tao, he can't think of a second one.

Xiao Tao curled her lips and smiled a little embarrassed. He sat down on the stone bench next to Qi Zhengxiu. Qi Zhengxiu touched the teacup, took a sip, and did not speak. He didn't know what to say, seeing the people who were walking side by side with him fall one by one, and language was poor at the moment. I only sat quietly, thinking that when I chatted with Zhang Yanqing back then, I said that my husband wanted the horse leather shroud to be returned, which was really a prophecy.

Xiao Tao saw that Qi Zhengxiu didn't speak for a long time, so she mustered up the courage and said, "Childe, tomorrow will be fifteen." Why don't we go out for a walk, firstly, it is a good sign for the Lantern Festival to walk all kinds of diseases, and secondly, we can also pray for blessings???"

Qi Zhengxiu didn't say anything, praying for blessings? I heard that the six princes also brought their families to pray for blessings. But can the Buddha bless the war? Can you bless the soldiers of Datang with no casualties? Blessing is only the weakest compromise to bring some comfort to your heart. But at the moment, it seems that there is only this weakest way. After a while, Qi Zhengxiu nodded and said, "Okay." ”

The Lantern Festival in Jinling has been lively since dusk. On this day, no matter the young lady, the small jasper, or even the girl from Huayuefang, you can come out to shop. It's a rare day of the year when you can come and go freely. The sound of the phoenix flute, the light of the jade pot, the crackling of firecrackers, the dazzling of fireworks, which street is filled with a lively atmosphere. There are literati and writers who stand in front of the hanging lanterns, guessing the riddles, and there are also groups of women walking together, talking and laughing, looking at the purses and sachets sold on the street.

Xiao Tao helped Qi Zhengxiu to walk along Suzaku Street, and chattered to Qi Zhengxiu from time to time: "Childe, there is a lion dance on the left, and a dragon dance on the right." There is also an octagonal palace lamp in front, and there are lantern riddles on it. The midnight song of the phoenix begging for the phoenix, and the Guangling song comforted Ji Kang. Thousands of armies are divided into empty city systems, and the seven-string music is not played. Hit a thing. After reading it, Xiao Tao couldn't help but ponder, "What is this?" ”

The corners of Qi Zhengxiu's lips rose slightly, the smell of firecrackers outside, and the breath of the woman next to him made him feel a rare soothing. This riddle is not difficult to guess, he just didn't expect that Xiao Tao can know so many words now, and he can read the whole poem fluently. I don't know if it's her hard work, or Huayuefang's training, thinking of the latter, Qi Zhengxiu's heart is a little gloomy.

Xiao Tao saw Qi Zhengxiu smiling, unconsciously tugged at his sleeve and smiled: "Childe must have guessed it, tell me quickly." What is it? ”

Qi Zhengxiu squeezed her hand and smiled faintly: "If you guess it, I'll give you something." "Do your best.

Got something to send? So guess for yourself. Xiao Tao pursed her lips, what the hell is it? Enigma crepe. Xiao Tao couldn't figure it out, she was still chattering just now, and her mind kept turning all kinds of things she had seen.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, the garrison of Jinling City was also a little looser than usual, and the atmosphere of the festival was always easy to immerse. Zhao Kuangyi took his entourage to the city gate north of Jinling. There were many people, Zhao Kuangyi asked four entourages to wait outside the city to prevent accidents, and only brought the most capable one, and in the evening, with a large number of people mixed into the city.

Jinling is no stranger to Zhao Kuangyi, and he has been here once before. I inquired and went to Huayuefang. The next person told him that today's girls who were not ordered by the official to go to spring would go to the street to walk all kinds of diseases.

"What about the little peach girl?" Zhao Kuangyi asked. Li Yue'e's letter did not say that Xiao Tao had changed her name to Water Lotus.

"Little Peach?" The servant thought for a moment and said, "There's no such girl here." ”

"No?" Zhao Kuangyi was stunned, could it be that Li Yue'e inquired wrong? Or did you change your name? Zhao Kuangyi was a little anxious again, he had already arrived in Jinling, and he couldn't see her again, how could he be willing?

Looking at the somewhat cold appearance in Huayuefang from a distance, Zhao Kuangyi decided to try his luck on the street. Jinling's Lantern Festival is really more lively and magnificent than Kaifeng. Tang people are graceful, better at silk and bamboo music, and more drunk with gold. Zhao Kuangyi didn't care about the excitement, staring at the young women coming and going, for fear of missing a figure.

Unconsciously, Zhao Kuangyi had walked several streets, and the woman in red and green had walked back and forth in front of his eyes, and he was a little dizzy when he saw it, but he never found the familiarity he had in mind.

Fireworks were set off in the distance, making the dark night always shiny and gorgeous, Zhao Kuangyi's eyes suddenly fluttered, and his heart fluttered. Ten paces away, a woman in a lake-blue skirt, wearing a light silver cloak inlaid with brocade mouse hair, was leaning sideways and smiling. The sway on his head still glittered in the fireworks. It's her! I don't know how many times I've seen it in my dreams, and with just a silhouette and even a wisp of breath, he can find her location accurately.

Zhao Kuangyi was about to step up desperately, but suddenly saw a man in a frost-white robe standing beside her, who was also looking at her with a smile. The two of them held their wide sleeves together.

With a "bang", Zhao Kuangyi felt as if his breathing had stagnated, the fireworks around him, dragon dances, lion plays, and pedestrians coming and going all seemed to be gone, and in his eyes, only the pair of beautiful people standing next to each other were left. I have to say, they are a good match. A gentle man, a delicate and pretty woman. But why, my heart seems to have been cut by a knife? Zhao Kuangyi's fists clenched tightly.

A naughty child next to Xiao Tao suddenly threw a firecracker into the charcoal brazier on the side of the road, a huge crackling sound exploded around Xiao Tao, Zhao Kuangyi subconsciously rushed forward, but saw Qi Zhengxiu, who was in a frost-white robe, moved faster than him, grabbed Xiao Tao's waist like lightning, turned around, and gently hugged Xiao Tao to the opposite side of him.

The firecrackers exploded everywhere behind Qi Zhengxiu, Xiao Tao was so frightened that she seemed to have lost her soul, her face was pale, she didn't care about herself, she held Qi Zhengxiu's hand tightly, and looked up and down: "Childe, is there anything wrong?" ”

Qi Zhengxiu shook his head: "I'm fine." What about you? ”

"Nope." Xiao Tao shook her head violently, and there were some palpitations, "I'm scared to death." Childe turned around and looked to see if there was anything wrong with his clothes????"

"Alright." Qi Zhengxiu raised his hand and pinched Xiao Tao's face, leaned over and said gently, "It doesn't matter." But because he couldn't see it, when he leaned over, he happened to bump into Xiao Tao, who was tiptoeing to look behind him, and Xiao Tao slammed into Qi Zhengxiu's arms.

Xiao Tao's face turned red, but he was reluctant to come out of Qi Zhengxiu's arms, Qi Zhengxiu rubbed Xiao Tao's shoulder and helped her up, and he didn't feel that his face was a little red, and his voice was gentle: "Why are you still so frizzy?" Well? ”

Zhao Kuangyi's body began to cool, from his hands and feet, to his limbs, to his heart, he didn't know that he hadn't slept for two days and one night and ran here, and what he saw would be like this. The sky in Jinling is colder than Kaifeng. Zhao Kuangyi suddenly froze and his limbs stiffened. There was a seller of wine on the side of the road to keep pedestrians warm, Zhao Kuangyi threw a few pieces of broken silver and took a bottle and poured it in, only to start to heat up again from his hands and feet. But my heart still hurts.

Xiao Tao and Qi Zhengxiu walked forward again, Zhao Kuangyi did not hesitate, drank all the wine in his hand, and continued to follow.

Qi Zhengxiu took Xiao Tao by the hand and continued to listen to Xiao Tao talk about the excitement on the side of the road. After walking through Zhuque Street, I soon arrived at the Qinhuai River, and the Qinhuai River of the Lantern Festival was even more noisy. Qi Zhengxiu and Xiao Tao walked for a long time before they finally got away from the crowd and arrived at a secluded place, where the river was very shallow, and there were several lanterns hanging around them, swaying in the wind.

Xiao Tao took out a box from her sleeve and opened it, inside were more than a dozen river lanterns that she folded with paper overnight last night, like the shape of a boat, Xiao Tao took out the fire fold, lit the river lantern, and whispered to Qi Gongzi: "Childe, it is very quiet here, you can pay tribute and pray for blessings." As he spoke, he put a lit river lantern into the water and floated down the river of Qinhuai.