306: Finally see each other and show his heart

The beautiful past, the painful past, was left behind by Xiaonuo the night before the wedding.

However, can she really abandon these memories that belong to her and Nanfeng?

I'm afraid only she knows this.

But, judging from the look on her face, she seems to be a different person today.

"Princess, this is a wedding dress designed by the empress herself and embroidered for you by the embroidery lady in the palace." Hui Niang carried a brocade box to Xiaonuo. "Well, put it on the table." Xiao Nuo smiled lightly and nodded, "After dressing up, I'll change it." "Get up, under the service of the palace maid, Xiao Nuo quickly washed, and then sat in front of the dressing table, "There is no need for the hairstyle to be too cumbersome." She instructed the maid who was grooming her.

"Yes, Your Highness Princess."

The palace maid who groomed her curtsied, picked up a delicate half-moon-shaped comb from the dressing table, and delicately combed her with green silk.

"Princess, do you think this hairstyle is okay?" The palace maid skillfully curled her hair in a bun, picked up a makeup mirror, and took a step back, "Hmm." Another light smile, seeing Hui Niang standing aside, I couldn't bear to see her forced to make a happy face.

Slowly getting up, Xiao Nuo walked to the table, opened the lid of the brocade box, and suddenly looked stunned.

Such a gorgeous wedding dress, lying quietly on the velvet. Her eyes were slightly wet, were she happy? Yes, she was happy, this wedding dress was designed for her by her mother. But her heart was a little sour, how good it would be if she wore this gorgeous wedding dress and married him!

In an instant, she let out a low sigh.

I said that I don't remember the past that happened with him, how can I not remember it?

She shook her head with a wry smile in her heart, and under the service of Hui Niang and the palace maid, the gorgeous wedding dress was worn on her body.

The fiery red wedding dress is very festive. The fabric produced is the finest silk satin produced by Ling Guo, as thin as cicada wings, soft as clouds cut from the sky. Gold embroidery thread trim, neckline, cuffs, embroidered with blue lotus petals. Qinglian? Xiaonuo's good-looking eyes were suddenly full of happiness.

In the hearts of my mother and father, Qinglian is undoubtedly a testimony of their love.

Does my mother want her to have a love of her own?

The green lotus is vivid. The embroidery thread is very thin, so thin that it is almost invisible to the naked eye, with thousands of threads, embroidered with deep and shallow, open and closed, blooming on the fiery red wedding dress. The drops of dew stained on the petals seem to have just been plucked from the pond, and when you touch them lightly, you feel wet and cool.

"Princess, this wedding dress that the empress has prepared for you is really beautiful."

Hui Niang tried her best to make the smile on her face natural, her little master looked like a fairy, and now she is wearing this breathtaking, as if she used fairy magic to conjure up a wedding dress, it is really beautiful to the extreme.

Pretty? What is she going to do pretty?

He will not see.

Xiaonuo smiled slightly, but did not speak.

The grand wedding was not held in the palace, but was chosen by Xiao Nuo to be held in the first village in the world, and the wedding ceremony was carried out at nightfall.

She did this, Ling Wushuang and Xuanyuan Mo understood, and Ling Ling and Haoyang also understood.

She was waiting, waiting for Nanfeng to appear in front of her at the moment when the wedding was held.

Therefore, none of them disputed it.

As parents, they don't want their daughter to be unhappy for the rest of their life; As an elder brother, Ling Ling does not want to love his eldest sister, and he is accompanied by pain and pain every day; As a man who loves her, Haoyang doesn't want the woman he likes, because of anger, to marry him against his will, and lose his lifelong happiness.

Xiao Nuo didn't know what she was thinking, and Ling Wushuang had already seen it.

After dressing up, she sat alone in the pavilion outside Yaohua Palace again, thinking about her thoughts in a confused expression, waiting for Haoyang's welcoming team to marry her in the palace.

The first village in the world is located outside the city, adjacent to the large peach forest, it is also full of peach blossom trees, houses, pavilions, pavilions, rockeries and strange stones, all kinds of scenery are available, the spring flowers bloom in season, beautiful, like a fairyland on earth. The Imperial Palace, inside and outside Gyeongju Castle, and the world's first village, are full of joy.

Even the trees, grass, gravel, and dust on the roadside were dyed golden red by the slowly falling sunset.

The silk bamboo drum music and the boiling human voices break the tranquility of dusk, and it is lively everywhere.

"Xin'er, are you still sad in your heart?" The greeting team has not yet arrived at the first village in the world, Yu Wenmingxuan's family of four arrived at the wedding site in advance, and when they had nothing to do, they went with other guests to play in the peach blossom forest in the village. She was very sad, but she didn't complain about Haoyang, nor did she complain about Xiaonuo, she was just sad that she was too young to marry her Haoyang brother as a wife in advance. When our Xin'er grows up, there will be boys who are better than Brother Haoyang. Yu Wenming glanced at his wife with a dazzling look, then stretched out his arm to take her into his arms, and said to Xin'er: "Xin'er, your mother is talking to you, why don't you ignore her?" Xin'er pinched a broken flower branch in her hand, pursed her mouth slightly, and hung her head silently.

"Brother Moon is not allowed to be fierce, she is not happy, we just let her be happy. Ye Lei, Ye Lei, are you saying that I am right? ”

Ling'er broke free from Yu Wenmingxuan's arms, grabbed her son's sleeve, blinked her crystal eyes, and asked.

For the kind and innocent mother in front of him, Yuwen Yelei is the same as his own father, he cherishes and loves him tightly.

He flipped his hand and shook off the petals in his palm, looked at Ling'er and smiled, and said, "What the mother concubine said is right. I'm going to make Xin'er happy for you! Ye Lei said, walked to Xin'er's side, and said in a low voice: "You come with me, I have something to say to you." Xin'er nodded and hummed, "Father, it's good that you accompany your mother here, and I'll take Xin'er for a walk elsewhere." Taking Xin'er's little hand, Ye Lei turned to Yu Wenming Xuan and said.

"Go, remember to go to the hall to attend your Xiaonuo sister's wedding and Haoyang's wedding later."

Yu Wenmingxuan smiled at the corner of his mouth and told Ye Lei.

"Got it."

Ye Lei pulled his lips and smiled, and the figure of Xin'er quickly disappeared into the rain.

"Brother, are you telling the truth? Sister Xiaonuo, she really doesn't like Brother Haoyang? The brother and sister walked hand in hand to a big stone and sat down, Ye Lei briefly told Xin'er about the matter between Haoyang and Xiaonuo, "Cousin, she has always liked that Nangong master, because there was a misunderstanding between them, so my cousin wants to marry Haoyang." However, not many people know about it, so you are not allowed to shout, you know? Ye Lei raised his head, looked around, and saw that no one was approaching, so he lowered his voice and said in Xin'er's ear.

"Then, isn't that Brother Haoyang very pitiful." Xin'er said, the expression on her little face became slightly sad, "Also, if it is the Nangong Lord who is liked by Sister Xiaonuo, he, if he doesn't appear, Sister Xiaonuo is afraid, I'm afraid it will be even more sad." Brother Haoyang is unhappy, I will be unhappy, Sister Xiaonuo is sad, and I will be sad. What to do? Or let Sister Xiaonuo marry Brother Haoyang as his wife, and I will be their sister! Tears gradually formed in Xin'er's eyes, "But, but, I will be so sad in my heart!" Ye Lei saw Xin'er crying sadly, and was about to say a few words of comfort, so he saw Xin'er wipe the tears from her face, raised her head, blinked her big wet eyes, and said: "However, compared to the happiness of Brother Haoyang and Sister Xiaonuo, although I am sad in my heart, it is nothing." Brother, don't worry, I've figured it out, no matter what happens at the wedding, I will happily bless Brother Haoyang and Sister Xiaonuo. ”

"Xin'er is so good." Ye Lei raised his hand and stroked the hair on the back of Xin'er's head, and said with a warm smile: "Brother believes that our cousin will be happy, but her happiness is not given by Haoyang, but by the master of Nangong, so ah, when Xin'er grows up, Haoyang will definitely marry you." He is not stupid, it is not difficult to guess the result from the place and time of this wedding.

However, if that Nangong Lord really didn't come, he wouldn't be worthy of true love.

As for whether Haoyang will marry Xiaonuo in the end, or whether he will live a veritable married life after marrying, his own thoughts do not matter. It was only because he admired that beautiful woman that her thoughts mattered.

"Really?" Xin'er lowered her head, pulled her fingers, and said, "Brother, I have grown up and know a lot of things. Brother Haoyang likes Sister Xiaonuo, I can see it. Even if Sister Xiaonuo is not with Brother Haoyang in the future, can he like me? ”

During this time, she has been to the palace to play, and every time she will see her favorite brother Haoyang, standing in a secluded place outside Yaohua Palace with her cousin Lingling, looking at Sister Xiaonuo, watching her leaning on the railing in the pavilion, looking at the path leading to the end of her bedroom in a daze, the light in Brother Haoyang's eyes, there is pity, there is a touch of sadness, she can see it clearly.

Although she didn't know why Brother Haoyang looked at Sister Xiaonuo with sadness in his eyes, she knew what the pity in his eyes meant.

Sometimes, when my father looked at my mother, I had such a look.

She asked her father why he looked at his mother with pity, and he told her that he loved her.

The mother concubine is different from ordinary women, and her brother and she both know the reason. The heart of the mother concubine is always innocent and transparent, without the slightest ugliness and hypocrisy. Such a woman makes her father, who loves her deeply, can't help but feel pity in his eyes whenever he looks at her sleeping face.

Sister Xiaonuo looked at the end of the trail, her eyes were dull, her face was painful, she must have wondered why the Nangong Lord didn't come to see her. Such a woman, seen by Haoyang, is cherished because of love, it is normal.

"Xin'er, my brother doesn't want to lie to you. Haoyang, he likes his cousin now, and I think you have sensed it from him. If you really like him and have a chance to marry him, then you have to give him time to let him slowly forget about his cousin. Otherwise, my brother and father would rather not let you marry him. "Haoyang, if you have the opportunity to marry my sister, I hope you don't let her wait for you for too long, otherwise, I won't spare you first! On Ye Lei's handsome face, his expression changed instantly, and he was unusually cold.

Xin'er slowly raised her head, her eyes were clear and bright, and said, "Brother, don't worry, I won't eat Sister Xiaonuo's vinegar." I like Brother Haoyang, if I can really be Brother Haoyang's wife when I grow up, I won't mind if he has Sister Xiaonuo in his heart. I believe that one day, Brother Haoyang will be the only one in his heart. The light in Xin'er's eyes is very confident, she believes that with her love for Haoyang, it will definitely make Haoyang slowly forget her love for Xiaonuo and only like her.

"Well, my brother believes in you." Ye Lei smiled, got up and dragged Xin'er to stand up, and said, "Listening to the sound of drums and salutes, the team is about to arrive, let's hurry up and go to the wedding hall." ”

"Okay." Dragged up by Ye Lei, Xin'er tidied up her dress casually, followed Ye Lei's side, and walked towards the hall.

The whole "No. 1 Village in the World" is decorated with bright red wedding curtains, and golden tassels are tied with concentric knots, hanging from the roof to the ground.

Every few steps, there is a candlestick made of sandalwood, on which are the thick of a baby's fist.

The firelight swayed with the slightest breeze, illuminating every corner of the village as if it were day.

In the wedding hall, the congratulatory guests were full.

There were officials of the central government, relatives and friends of the Duan family, and the nobles of the Gaomen in Gyeongju City, all dressed in gorgeous costumes, gathered in the hall, and whispered greetings with joy on their faces.

This is the beloved daughter of the Mo Emperor and the Empress, the sister of the current emperor, Her Royal Highness Princess Xinyue of the Ling Kingdom, who can participate in such a luxurious wedding ceremony, which heart is not beautiful?

Haoyang returned to the village with the welcoming team, and waited in the hall in advance, this kind of bride holding her father's hand and carrying out the wedding mode of big wedding, Haoyang had never heard of it, he was curious, but he didn't ask more, every step, he was in accordance with what Ling Ling said to him in advance, but there was nothing wrong.

Seeing the groom waiting in the hall, the guests looked anxiously at the gate, feeling strange, and stopped their voices and followed Haoyang's gaze. The candlelight was bright, shining brightly on Haoyang's wedding clothes. From the blue lotus petals embellished on the wedding dress, it is not difficult to see that the wedding dress he is wearing is very compatible with the wedding dress worn by Xiao Nuo, and the fiery red wedding dress makes his figure longer and his demeanor more noble.

His handsome face is as brilliant as the rising sun.

There was joy and worry in his eyes.

Happily, to be able to marry the person he admires, for him, three lives are fortunate.

The worry is, can his wedding be held smoothly?

Will he still come?

Will you rush here before the ceremony, and show your heart to the kind, delicate, and gorgeous woman?

Will the appearance of that person give birth to all kinds of unbearable words?

The more he thought about it, the more Haoyang's heart couldn't calm down.

The light in his eyes gradually became confused, and the lively drum music and the extreme prosperity seemed to be as if he didn't want to do it at this moment.

The red carpet, with its delicate patterns, spreads from the hall to the outside of the Zhuangzi.

The wind is blowing, the rain is falling, and the red petals are falling all over the red carpet, and the fragrance is blowing in the face.

It's almost auspicious, and the sound of drums and bamboos is playing louder. "Xiaonuo, wait for me, wait for me, I'll be there soon, I'll be there soon." Less than 500 meters away from the first village in the world, Nanfeng rode his horse and galloped, for fear that he would not be able to catch up in front of Xiaonuo and Haoyang's worship hall.

Hearing the cheerful sound of drums and bamboos, he pressed his hand on the horse's back, and his body suddenly rose into the air, following the direction from which the music came, and drifted to the wedding hall in the village.

In the hall, the sound of drums stopped, only the sound of silk and bamboo sounded, and the music that permeated the air was very fresh in the ears of the guests.

No one spoke, yes, at this moment, no one made a sound, all eyes fixed on the door of the hall.

Xiao Nuo appeared at the door of the hall with Xuanyuan Mo, who was wearing a white brocade robe, her long hair was curled, a delicately made phoenix hairpin was obliquely hung on her bun, and the tassels hung down from her forehead, vaguely covering her beautiful face. The body is embroidered with blue lotus petals, and the well-cut floor-dragging wedding dress shows her delicate figure more slender and tall.

She is already beautiful, and at this moment, coupled with the elegant makeup carefully depicted by the palace maid, she also looks like a blooming green lotus.

The gorgeous wedding dress can't hide her own thousands of graces.

She followed Xuanyuan Mo towards Haoyang step by step, the blooming blue lotus petals on the wedding dress, accompanied by her walking, swaying with the dew, Xuanyuan Mo's face was very calm, but he was in his heart: Old boy, if you don't show up later, then don't think about beating my Xuanyuan Mo's daughter again in this life!

The moment Haoyang saw Xiao Nuo, the look of confusion in his eyes was gone, and he didn't think about what would happen in the next moment.

At the moment, he only cherishes the moment in front of him.

Yes, he only cherishes this moment in front of him, even if she will be taken away by the Nangong Lord the next moment, but the beautiful memory of this moment is enough for him to reminisce and cherish for a lifetime.

She walked towards him, holding the god-like man, step by step.

The lotus step moved lightly, through the tassel, and the beautiful face had a faint smile.

Hehe! She had a smile, but there was a hint of bitterness in that smile.

"Don't worry, as long as he comes, I will never stop you from being together!"

Haoyang smiled bitterly in his heart, and secretly made his promise to Xiaonuo.

The empress loves lotus, and the ink emperor loves lotus, and her wedding dress is also embroidered with blue lotus petals, and even on his wedding dress, there are also blue lotus petals. In the past, he didn't have much special feelings for flowers and plants, but since he put on this wedding dress, he actually had a strong liking for Qinglian.

It is a testimony of the love between the Empress and the Emperor Mo.

It is also a testimony that he Duan Haoyang is very likely to let go of love in the next moment.

In the overwhelming red, she seems to be the most charming and gentle one of the green lotus, blooming endlessly with her demeanor. is full of joy, all for her as a foil.

Haoyang moved his steps lightly and walked forward, ready to take Xiao Nuo's slender hand from Xuanyuan Mo's hand.

He wanted to say so much - marry me, marry me for real! I like you, I love you, and I will be good to you for the rest of my life!

God, if the woman in front of me can really be my Duan Haoyang's wife, I will cherish her all my life, cherish her, and not let her suffer the slightest bit of heartache.

Haoyang's eyes showed tenderness, and Xuanyuan Mo couldn't help but sigh slightly in his heart.

Silly boy, don't forget what you promised me.

Suddenly, the rapid voice of the south wind sounded at the door: "Xiaonuo, don't!" He carried light skills, and with the sound of silk and bamboo, he finally found the wedding hall, but what he saw was her hand, and he was about to be put into the hands of today's bridegroom. No, she can't marry someone else, she's his, it's his!

The tenderness in Haoyang's eyes instantly froze together, and then quickly disappeared.

He still arrived, and at this critical juncture, he rushed to the scene of his and hers' wedding. Xuanyuan Mo didn't speak, he just tightened Xiaonuo's hand, then handed her hand to Haoyang, turned around and walked to the chair next to Ling Wushuang and sat down.

Tilt Ling sat in the subordinate position of the two of them, and he didn't speak, but his face was obviously a little unsightly because of the appearance of the south wind.

However, in his heart, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Since we know that today's wedding was a mistake, it is good to end it early.

In the end, Haoyang and Xiaonuo suffered together, and there was no happiness in their lives.

And what about his happiness? Where is it?

Ling Yuguang glanced at Ling Wushuang, and seeing that he seemed to be aware, he hurriedly moved his gaze and looked at Nanfeng, who was standing at the door of the hall, dusty, with slightly messy hair and a pale face.

I wanted to rush up and hug him, beat him, and ask him why he was here now? Holding back the tears that were about to well-end up in her eyes, Little Nuo bit her lip and turned her back to the door of the hall, not moving.

Her forbearance, her pain, not only entered Haoyang's eyes, but also reached his palm.

"Xiaonuo, I'm here, don't marry him, okay?"

After several days of hurrying, Nanfeng has reached the limit both mentally and physically, and his body is swaying, as if he is careless, he may fall to the ground, "Palace Master, I'll help you!" Qin Xin floated down from the air to the door of the hall and stepped forward to Nanfeng's side, trying to reach out to help him.

Nanfeng shook his head and refused to be supported by Qin Xin.

"Xiaonuo, come here, come to me, I'll take you away, we will never be separated again."

The sound of silk and bamboo died down at this moment, and time seemed to stand still at this moment.

In the air, only the sound of breathing rose and fell. Except for the south wind himself, no one made a sound.

His eyes were blazing, and he stretched out his hand, waiting for Xiaonuo to turn around and approach him.

Here, he finally came, did he know how hard she waited for him, how heartache it was?

He didn't know, how could he know?

If he knew, he wouldn't have come now.

Go with him, he said go with him, will she follow?

Maybe it's because he's waited too long, and Arnold's heart has gradually become cold. She cleaned up her mood, withdrew her hand from Haoyang's palm, a good-looking smile appeared on her beautiful face, slowly turned around, and raised her eyes to look in the direction of the door.

Nanfeng was excited, "Xiaonuo, come here, I'm here!" His hand was still raised, waiting for the man who loved his heart and had missed once in his life to come near and come to him. She doesn't move, why doesn't she move? Does she still resent him? Nanfeng was flustered in his heart, and he was a little overwhelmed for a while.

After a long time, he put down his hand, the corners of his lips twitched, and said: "You once said that you want me to marry you as a wife, to be the only wife in my life, no matter the glory and disgrace, birth, old age, sickness and death, rise and fall, you will never abandon me, and you will be with you for a long time." I didn't promise you at the time, it was me who was wrong, I went against my true feelings in my heart and rejected you. Now, I beg you, marry me, I like you, I love you, and I will be good to you for the rest of my life! Nanfeng said, kneeling on one knee and reaching out again, waiting for Xiaonuo to come to him. As he spoke, the faces of many guests in the hall showed disdain, ridicule, and contempt. But Nanfeng was completely fearless, he stared deeply at Xiao Nuo, and continued: "Xiao Nuo, I was wrong, I really know that I was wrong, can you forgive me?" Forgive me and get out of here with me, okay? I swear, I'll never say a word against your heart to you again, I swear! ”

His expression was particularly firm, firmly covering the fatigue in his body.

What Fukudi said, this time, he said it in front of more people.

Disdain, ridicule, abuse, he doesn't care, for her, he doesn't care at all! At this moment, he is only loyal to his heart, and he doesn't care about any human morality, etiquette, righteousness, and shame, or gentleman's style!

He wouldn't back down and miss her again.

Haoyang stood behind Xiao Nuo, with a pair of warm eyes, looking at the south wind steadily. The man who knelt on one knee in front of him, with deep affection, he didn't need to fight with him anymore, and he didn't need to hold the wedding anymore. However, he will stand behind her and be her strong backing, until the moment she is happy, he will silently turn away.

Nanfeng's words undoubtedly moved Xiaonuo, which can be seen from the tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. However, a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, and she hardened her heart and said, "Don't you think it's a little late for you to say this?" "She's going to stab him, she's going to stab him with the same pain as she is, and then she's going to forgive him!

Tears fell on her fiery wedding dress, making Nanfeng's heart ache deeply.

"It's not too late, Arnold, it's not too late. You're not married yet, as long as you come to me, it's not too late. He looked at her, his eyes full of pleading, "Xiaonuo, marry me!" Since then, we will never abandon and stay together for a long time! Xiao Nuo stopped the tears in his eyes and chuckled: "Not too late? Why are you not too late? Yes? I'm waiting for you, why don't you come? It's not too late for you to tell me, I'm telling you, it's just your self-righteousness. Soon, I will marry my colt and become his wife, and you tell me that it is not too late, don't you think it's a joke? ”

"Father, Sister Xiaonuo is so pitiful!" Xin'er stood beside Yu Wenmingxuan, pulled his sleeve, and whispered.

Yu Wenmingxuan's expression was serious, and he replied to her in a low voice, "Your sister Xiaonuo is sad because she likes Lord Nangong, and when she vents enough, it will be fine!" "Love has sweetness and pain, Yu Wenming Xuan has a deep understanding, whether it is him and the county lord of Qingyang, or Xuanyuan Mo and Ling Wushuang, the two couples who love each other, which pair has not tasted the ups and downs of love!

As soon as this hurdle is over, Xiaonuo should be happy for a lifetime.

She and Nanfeng are happy, but what about Haoyang? Yu Wenmingxuan raised his eyes and glanced at Haoyang, seeing that Haoyang's face was still calm, he couldn't help but feel relieved.

At first, the people who cast disdain, ridicule, and contempt at Nanfeng all returned those undeserved eyes after Xiao Nuo spoke, and stood in place with their eyes down.

Emperor Mo, the empress, and the current emperor did not speak, and there was no superfluous expression on their faces, what qualifications did they, outsiders, have to despise, ridicule, and slander the palace master of the Star Moon Palace?

"Haoyang, the auspicious time of the wedding was delayed by this person who doesn't know the depths, are you still willing to marry me?" Xiao Nuo turned around and no longer spoke to Nanfeng, but raised his teary eyes, looked at Haoyang and asked. Starting from Xingyue Palace, in the past few days, she has been rushing day and night, in exchange for her not knowing the depths, hehe! Could it be that he really wants to lose her, really lose her for the rest of his life? Nanfeng's eyes contained a look of despair, she stinged him, humiliated him, he suffered without complaint, but she shouldn't want him, she shouldn't marry another man!

Haoyang smiled slightly, his eyes showed endless tenderness, and nodded: "I am willing." ”

"No, you can't marry her! The person she loves is not you, you can't marry her! ”

Nanfeng stood up from the ground, raised his head to look at Haoyang, the wetness in his eyes slid down his thin, handsome, and somewhat pale face, and every word he shouted was full of pain.

"I can't marry her, can you?"

The smile on Haoyang's face was very indifferent, and the words he spoke were not in a hurry or slow, but they gave people an indescribable pressure.

Can he?

Can he?

The south wind seemed to have the intention of retreating in his heart.

He staggered, took a step back, and Haoyang's words were like a sharp knife, dissecting the bits and pieces of his past that hurt Xiaonuo from his heart.

"Palace Master, otherwise, let's go back!"

Qin Xin hadn't looked around carefully since she entered the hall, but now, it was obviously not the time for her to find Ling Wushuang, even if she pretended, she had to pretend to care about Nanfeng very much.

"Go away!" Somehow, Nanfeng waved his hand, and Qin Xin's body was like a kite with a broken string, falling out of the door and falling heavily on the red carpet.

The corners of her mouth were bloodshot, and no one cared about her.

"You go, I won't go with you!"

Xiao Nuo's faint, painful voice came from his lips and reached Nanfeng's ears.