The carriage staggered to carry Murong Zhining south, leaving the people she loved and the people she loved far behind. The outline of the imperial city gradually blurred, and Murong Zhining silently thought in her heart: goodbye little brother, goodbye Caisang, goodbye emperor. No, it's never again! A clear tear rolled down Murong Zhining's face, and her heart was like water.

Yan Feng sat alone in the imperial study, silently staring at the "Winding Beam" in a daze, he became more and more withdrawn. Except for being above the court, he did not see Yiyun Yuexuan in private. The thought of Qi Yun Yuexuan taking away Murong Zhining made his heart ache for a while, and the feeling of helplessness made his heart and lungs hurt. Qi Shangming looked at him behind him and shook his head, not knowing how to comfort him. It is said that the emperor is in the twilight of the dynasty, only he understands Yan Feng's thoughts.

The carriage was bumpy for a day, and Murong Zhining was drowsy. In the evening, Qi Yun Yuexuan chose a place near the river and ordered the team to stop and rest in the palace. A short guard helped Murong Zhining out of the carriage and led her into a tent. The short guard bowed and said, "In the future, the slave will wait for Miss Murong." Murong Zhining was taken aback, and the voice turned out to be a woman.

Murong Zhining was very curious and asked her: "How can there be a woman in the army?" The woman neatly laid the floor for her: "The slave maid is called Luo Siyao, the slave maid's father is a criminal minister, and the slave maid's whole family has been implicated and has been assigned to various places as slaves in the army. It was General Qiyun who ordered the slaves and maids to serve you. Murong Zhining pondered for a moment and nodded: "It turns out that there are really official daughters in the army who have been assigned. ”

Murong Zhining took out Biwu to show Luo Siyao and asked her if she had seen it, Luo Siyao shook her head and said she hadn't seen it. Luo Siyao took Biwu and looked at it carefully: "Although the slave has never seen this piece of jade, she knows that the material of this piece of jade is an extremely precious and rare jadeite, called imperial green." Those who can afford to wear this kind of jade are either emperors or kings. ”

Murong Zhining looked around the tent, the space was not very large, like a very small room. The tent was covered with a carpet with a low table in the middle of the carpet and two cushions around it. Murong Zhining sat down on the cushion, and she pointed to another cushion for Luo Siyao to sit down as well. Luo Siyao lowered her head: "The slave doesn't dare to be presumptuous, the slave is just a military slave." Murong Zhining said sadly: "Sit down, it's okay." I'm a person who doesn't even deserve to be a slave, if you don't dislike it, just call me Zhining. Luo Siyao said in a panic: "Then the slave will call you by your name when no one is around." ”

After a while, a guard brought dinner to Murong Zhining, which was three steamed buns and a bowl of porridge. Murong Zhining asked Luo Siyao to eat with her, Luo Siyao sat on the cushion opposite her with a red face, grabbed a steamed bun and ate it. The two chatted while eating, and Murong Zhining asked, "What do you allotted officials and slaves do in the army?" Luo Siyao's eyes turned red: "The slaves and maids are still lucky, thanks to General Qiyun's blessing, they only do some chores." The other official ladies became military slaves, and their fate was extremely miserable. Luo Siyao blushed: "It's equivalent to a concubine in the army, at the mercy of others." Those soldiers practiced and fought during the day, and at night they played with the officers and slaves in the army. Murong Zhi's eyes were red: "There are few good fates for this woman." Luo Siyao looked at her enviously: "It's good that you are like this, and it is also a blessing to be General Qiyun's concubine." Murong Zhi's face sank: "I'm not his concubine, you can just call me by my name in the future." ”

After dinner, Luo Siyao asked someone to bring in a waist-high wooden barrel, and after a while, someone brought two buckets of hot water and poured them into the wooden barrel. Luo Siyao pulled a curtain and let Murong Zhining bathe, and Murong Zhining marveled that there were still such conditions in the army. Luo Siyao said: "This is also something that only a few generals can enjoy, General Qiyun didn't give orders, I asked someone to fetch water privately." Luo Siyao rubbed her body for Murong Zhi and saw the striking mark on her back. The wound of the brand seems to have just healed, there are scabs in some places, and there is faint pus flowing out in some places.

Luo Siyao asked puzzledly: "Why are you branded with a war horse?" I have seen General Qiyun brand the captured deserters before, but they are only branded on their faces. Murong Zhining's eyes were soaked with tears: "I am the animal of the Qiyun family, so you don't need to treat me as the master, I am not as good as you." Luo Siyao carefully wiped her wounds: "The general is also kind to the minions, I have never seen her beat the slaves and maids in the army, let alone heard of anyone being branded." Murong Zhining said mischievously: "That's because I'm a disobedient minion." Luo Siyao laughed out loud.

Murong Zhining turned to look at Luo Siyao: "Siyao...... Can you do me a favor? You women who have been in the army are bold, can you tear off the brand on my back with a knife? I am not afraid of pain. Luo Siyao was so frightened that she screamed softly: "Ask Miss Murong to let the slave and maid go, the slave and maid really don't have that guts." Besides, that's going to kill you. ”

Murong Zhining's eyes flashed with stubbornness: "It's a pity that my hand can't touch it, otherwise, I will cut off that piece of skin with my own hands." Luo Siyao shuddered when she heard this.

When she set off the next day, Luo Siyao followed the carriage behind. Murong Zhining lifted the curtain of the carriage and beckoned her to get on the carriage, but she shrunk her neck and didn't dare. Murong Zhining stopped the carriage and stretched out her hand to pull her up.

The carriage stopped and went all the way, during the day, and at night stopped to live in the tents set up by the soldiers, day after day. Murong Zhining often held Biwu in her hands, crying silently, she never showed cowardice in front of people, but when no one was around, she always secretly shed tears. She misses the nurse, Cai Sang, and the little brother who gave him Biwu, obviously there is an agreement between them, but Murong Zhining has never been able to grasp her own fate.

Unconsciously, the carriage walked on the road for more than ten days, Murong Zhining's desperate heart slowly recovered, and hope began to sprout in her heart again, she hoped that one day she could be free, and she still had a lot of things to do. Murong Zhining and Luo Siyao have gradually become acquainted, Luo Siyao is not as restrained as before, the two talk more casually than before, and they talk more and more topics, so they are not too lonely on the way.

Luo Siyao cautiously asked Murong Zhining: "They all said that you are General Qiyun's concubine, why hasn't General Qiyun come to see you for more than ten days?" Murong Zhining's face was calm and silent. Luo Siyao was a little embarrassed: "I'm sorry, I'm so stupid, I just listened to the soldiers." How could a concubine be branded? I should have thought a long time ago, I'm sorry Ah Zhining, I didn't mean to make you sad. Murong Zhining took her hand: "It's okay, I'm just a hostage." Luo Siyao nodded suspiciously, her comprehension was limited.

It may be that the road is too bumpy, or it may be that the water and soil are not adaptable, and Murong Zhining is very uncomfortable. In the last few days, I have always been drowsy and can't eat. She lay on her side in the carriage, her stomach churning as uncomfortable.

Luo Siyao wiped the beads of sweat on Murong Zhining's forehead with a handkerchief, and comforted her softly: "You women who have never been far away, your body is a little more noble. It's not like the women who have been with us in the army for a long time and have thick skin, and after a while get used to it, it's fine. Murong Zhining nodded with a pale face.

When she stopped to rest at night, Murong Zhining was still unconscious, and two guards came over to help Luo Siyao put her into the camp tent. Luo Siyao looked at Murong Zhining as if she was very sick, so she asked the guards to report to Qi Yun Yuexuan. Qi Yun Yuexuan only asked the guards to reply to Luo Siyao: "A minion, where is it so delicate? ”

This night, Murong Zhining fell asleep in the tent, Luo Siyao shook her and didn't react, so anxious that she burst into tears. At this time, a short guard outside the tent rushed in, threw away his helmet, knelt in front of the bunk and hugged Murong Zhining and cried. Luo Siyao took a closer look, and she was also a woman.

The girl's cry made Murong Zhining faintly conscious, and she opened her eyes gently.

Murong Zhining touched the girl's face and asked weakly, "Cai Sang, why are you here? Am I dreaming again?" Cai Sang pressed Murong Zhining's hand on her face and said, "It's me, I've always followed you." I was afraid that you would be worried, so I didn't dare to tell you. I said that good sisters should be blessed and shared, and you don't want to get rid of me. Murong Zhining smiled bitterly and weakly.

Cai Sang personally went to see Qi Yun Yuexuan, but Qi Yun Yuexuan couldn't stand her grind, so he impatiently sent a military doctor.