"Light, I don't understand, what's wrong with you?"

Hearing her questions over and over again, I myself felt more and more helpless, and even had the urge to run away and avoid all her questions. But Rue Xiang was uncharacteristically tough, she grabbed my wrist and squeezed it hard, looking at my eyes seriously and anxiously: "What happened?" What the hell is going on between you?! ”

There is no way to avoid it.

Not only is she asking, but the question that I have been asking myself seems to be the question I have been asking myself in my heart.

What happened between us to get to where we are today?

I was silent for a long time before I raised my head to look at Rue Xiang and said, "You said you don't understand because you don't know what has happened to me and him over the years. ”

Rue looked at me with a frown.

"Much, I don't want to say it again, I'll only tell you one thing."

“……”

"He is now married to the eldest princess, and sooner or later he will be the emperor's brother-in-law and the master of the Celestial Empire."

Ruexiang's eyes suddenly widened: "Horse?!" ”

After saying these two words, she seemed to be incredulous, and looked around in a panic, as if she wanted to look around, and seek a little solace from those familiar scenes. After being at a loss for a while, she was still confused, and looked up at me again: "Pony? ”

"Hmmm......"

"He, he's going to marry the emperor's sister?"

"Hmm."

"......" Rue Xiang was silent for a while, and anger unconsciously appeared on her face: "He really failed you?" He's going to climb the dragon and the phoenix, so he's abandoned you—" She said, confused, "but he's not that kind of person." Lightness, is there any misunderstanding? Third brother, he's not the kind of person who covets wealth and wealth, is he mistaken? ”

“……”

Seeing Rue Xiang so stunned and panicked, but still believing in the light cold and subconsciously defending him, I couldn't help but feel a little sour. When I think back to the time when I was in the Juma Valley, I still doubt him, and I am not as good as Rue Xiang in comparison.

I sniffed and said softly, "He is indeed not that kind of person, and he has not failed me." But it's a fact that I'm separated from him. ”

“……”

"A lot of things, me and him, can't go back."

“……”

"So, don't ask any more questions."

Rue Xiang kept looking at me, listening to me finish the last word with a crying voice, she was silent for a long time before she said again: "Okay, you and him, I won't ask." But I ask you, why are you suddenly getting married? Why don't you want an embroidery workshop? ”

“……”

"Light, you've been in the village for almost a year, we're facing each other day and night, you haven't even mentioned that person these days, and now you're suddenly going to marry him, why? There is also an embroidery workshop, the embroidery workshop that you have worked hard to build so far, do you say you don't want it? ”

“……”

I was so upset by what she said that I only felt that every word was like a sharp knife piercing my heart, and I couldn't see the injury, but I could feel the blood flowing like an infusion, and I couldn't help it.

I suddenly burst out and shouted, "He's him, I'm me!" He already has his eldest princess, can you blame me if I marry someone else?! ”

"Why? Everybody asks me why, why don't you ask him what he did to me? ”

"It's him who doesn't want me! He doesn't want me! ”

Rue Xiang was shocked by this sentence.

She looked at me with a little horror and even strangeness, as if she had known me for the first time; From her frightened eyes, I saw myself, emaciated and pale, ghost-like figure, with a distorted and hideous expression on her face.

I was out of breath, looking at Ruexiang's frightened and unfamiliar eyes, and I almost lost my strength.

Yes, not only did she not see me clearly, but maybe even myself, I never saw myself clearly.

It was just now that I realized that I am not a Bodhisattva, I am not a Bodhisattva, I am not really so submissive, and I am not a bad person who repays grievances with virtue. In fact, I was pushed away by him, and I was stubbornly rejected by him, I was not without grievances, seeing him facing Pei Yuanzhen day and night, knowing that Pei Yuanhao gave them marriage, and hearing Fu Badai's heart-wrenching, but in fact, I was not without anger and jealousy.

All men, all men, separate me from him!

Everybody, give me what I don't want at all.

But what I hate the most is also him.

Because even he is the same!

It's just that over the years, I've been too accustomed to suppressing my emotions, whether I love or not, I have habitually suppressed them in the deepest part of my heart.

There is no way to vent, and he forces himself to be calm.

To this day, Rue Xiang's sentence by sentence, it was me who asked, and it was me who hurt, and finally made me unbearable and said those bad words to vent my anger.

However, when a bad word came out, I found that I hadn't hurt anyone yet, but hurt myself first, and saying this sentence only made my chest hurt badly, and even made myself look down on myself.

Seeing that I lowered my head in some annoyance, Rue Xiang seemed to understand.

She calmed down for a moment and said softly, "Sorry, light. ”

“……”

"I'm not supposed to dictate your business. Actually, I don't know anything about what happened to you, and I really shouldn't blame you for anything. ”

"Rue ......"

"But, embroidery." As she spoke, a wisp of confusion rose between her eyebrows: "Are you really just throwing it away?" ”

"Embroidery ......"

These two words made my heart, which was already a little numb with pain, throb again.

If my feelings are dominated, abandoned, trampled on, and destroyed, then the embroidery workshop is my only construction these days, in my hands from scratch, from small to large, day by day, like another "Li'er".

But now, I can't even keep it anymore.

Thinking of this, the sourness in my heart almost overwhelmed what little peace I had left, and I could only choke up with red eyes: "Leave it to you, I-I don't worry." ”

"It's not a matter of worrying. The embroidery workshop you worked so hard to build, you really don't want it? ”

I forced a smile: "He said, after marrying him, you don't have to work so hard." ”

Rue Xiang was stunned for a moment, as if she didn't know what to do, and just when I wanted to turn away, she suddenly said, "Do you really think it's hard?" ”

"......" my heart skipped a beat.

Rue Xiang looked into my eyes and said seriously, "Do you really feel hard? I don't believe it, light, every time you get busy, you are more tired than anyone else, you are dotting inside and out, but you never complain, on the contrary, I think you are very happy, even happier than every time you check out and count money. ”

“……”

"You don't know how happy you laugh when you're running the embroidery shop."

“……”

"Now, give up this embroidery workshop, are you really—really willing?"

My heart was pinched by her words, every word hurt, and I trembled with pain, and when I saw that she still wanted to persuade me, I interrupted her: "Ruexiang, don't say it again." ”

“……”

"There are some things that there is no way to change."

“……”

"I promised to go with him, and that's my promise."

Hearing the word promise, Rue Xiang finally stopped talking, she lowered her head and looked at the small wooden box in her hand, and her fingertips subconsciously grabbed the wooden box, as if she was very sad in her heart, but she couldn't say it. After a long time, she finally raised her head, took a deep breath, and said, "That's good." ”

“……”

"I don't have much more to say. Embroidery, I'll do my best. ”

"Thank you."

As she spoke, her eyes seemed to be a little red, she looked at me for a long time, and when she spoke again, her voice was a little choked, but she forced herself to calm down, and said: "Light, no matter how far you and the third brother go, and no matter if the two of you marry or not, whether you are sincere or not, as your friends, I hope to see the two of you find a good home and have real happiness." ”

I endured the heat in my eyes and lowered my head.

"Light, you must be happy."

After saying this, she grabbed my use hard and shook it again, then turned and left.

I stood still, never looking up, just listening to her distant footsteps, and her deep sigh in the wind, and finally slowly walked away.

And I finally swallowed the hot stuff in my eyes.

In any case, this promise has been made, I can no longer hold back, Pei Yuanxiu has promised me to give up Yangzhou, this is already the best situation for both the north and the south at present.

It can't be changed, it can't be changed!

Thinking of this, I took a deep breath and was about to walk back, but as soon as I looked up, I saw a red shadow swaying in front of me.

This man is-

I was stunned for a moment, my eyes thought that there was a mist and I couldn't see clearly, I rubbed my eyes, only to see a bewitching figure standing in front of me, not she swaying, but the wind blowing her red clothes fluttering, giving people a burning like a flame, but so strong that people want to get close and enjoy the feeling of playing.

It's Ah Lan!

I was pleasantly surprised and hurriedly stepped forward: "Ah Lan! ”

She stood still, the last rays of the setting sun shining on her, red and red.

But on her gorgeous and moving face, there was a sneer like ice.

As soon as I saw the expression on her face, my heart couldn't help but chuckle, and my steps froze: "Ah Lan? What happened to you? ”

She looked at me with a sneer: "It's nothing, come back and take a look, I didn't expect to hear a good news." ”

I was stunned for a moment, and immediately realized that she had already heard what I had said to Rue Xiang just now.

"Congratulations."

Hearing her enchanting, but ironic, words, I shuddered, this feeling, the same as when I met her in the bamboo forest of Pei Yuanxiu's Garden, it made people feel like they were pricked by a needle.

I don't know what's wrong, she came to Jixiang Village to live in my house for a few days before, obviously to protect me, I thought she had reconciled with me, but why haven't I seen her for a while, she has relapsed.

Or is something happening?

I smiled reluctantly, and also had a hint of laughter, and deliberately flattered: "Ah Lan, what's wrong with you?" ”

"How? It's just that I know that my sister has a happy event, so I came to congratulate her. ”

It's getting worse and worse to listen to her words, I can only change the subject, she left before, I asked her to help me find Jingxu, and now she suddenly came back, did she find it?

Thinking of this, I hurriedly said, "Ah Lan, do you have a clue about my friend?" ”

When she heard this, she laughed: "You are going to get married, and you are still married to that big man, do you still care about these little things?" ”

“……”

This time I seemed to feel it, and her cynicism was because-

At this moment, Ah Lan turned and left.

I hurriedly stepped forward: "Alan, where are you going?" ”

She stopped, shrugged her shoulders slightly, and looked back at me with some amusement: "Where am I going, do I still have you to care?" ”

"I—"

"Not to mention that you didn't spend money to invite me, even if you really spent the money, I also earned this money badly!"

After saying this, she turned around, only to see a red shadow flashing in front of her, and she was gone!

I panicked and hurried over, but no matter how I called her name, I looked around, Ah Lan had disappeared, and when I turned around, the riverbank was silent, and only some faint fragrance left by her was left in the air.

I stood by the river, watching the sun slowly set, the last bit of afterglow finally disappeared, and the whole land was slowly swallowed up by darkness.

Like, that night's dream......

The next day, we left.

Rumors had already spread all over the village, and when I followed Pei Yuanxiu out of this house, I also saw many people watching from afar.

At this time, I couldn't care about their gaze, but I looked over and saw Aunt Zhao, as well as the second brother of the Zhao family, they were standing at the gate of their own courtyard, looking at me from afar, when they met my gaze, Aunt Zhao frowned and shook her head gently.

The look of disappointment on her face, like a stone, weighed on my heart.

And the second brother of the Zhao family didn't say anything, and he didn't even have any expression, just nodded his head at me.

I was speechless, looked around again, and finally stopped worrying, and followed Pei Yuanxiu to turn around and leave.

In the crowd, there was no rue.

I don't know if she was disappointed in me, or if yesterday was her last goodbye to me, but I knew that no matter what they thought or what they thought, I still had to go on my way.

Li'er knew that she was going to move back to the original mansion, she was happy and confused, and asked me why, and asked me if I would not come back in the future, she still wanted to play with the friends in the village, I didn't answer her, and there was no way to guarantee anything, just standing at the stern, I felt that the bamboo pole was gently on the shore, and the hull of the boat swung into the river leisurely, gradually, away from the north bank, and away from the already familiar, quiet scenery.

A small hand gently reached over and grabbed my fingers.

As soon as I looked down, I saw Li'er's round cheeks, and under the eyelashes that flickered like butterfly wings, watery eyes were looking at Jixiang Village, which was slowly moving away.

She raised her head and looked at me: "Mother, can we still come back?" ”

“……”

After all, I didn't answer her question, but gently wrapped my arms around her little shoulders.

The ship is getting farther and farther away.

Back in Jiangnan, it was lively and busy again.

Han Ruoshi and Han Zitong came back a few days earlier, and they had already made some preparations, and the inner courtyard seemed to have been cleaned up, the bamboo forest was still lush and green, the bluestone road was still clean, the house was still so quiet and elegant, and the air was dyed with a faint incense.

Perhaps, just waiting for someone.

And I, when I returned to Jinling, was also waiting for someone.

On the third day, the day of the appointment of Wangjiang Pavilion has also arrived.

Wangjiang Pavilion, I didn't know where it was before, but I knew it was a pavilion by the river. And when the carriage took us over, I learned that it was a ferry, the ferry where I stopped when I secretly crossed the river by private boat, Pei Yuanxiu specially asked people to clean up the place, and a large clump of reeds was pulled out and paved into a smooth road; The simple trestle had been renovated, widened and paved so that a caravan could gallop on it; And at the end of the bridge, a gazebo was erected.

Standing near the river, listening to the wind whistling, looking at the vast smoke waves in front of you, the wide river surface seems to have no boundary, only a sparkling wave, the sound of the water is waves, stretching for thousands of years, being illuminated by the sun, and it seems to be a river of stars, brilliant and dazzling.

In a trance, I remembered Uncle Ai, who asked Su Su to scatter his ashes in the Yangtze River after his death, because he said that it was not the water of a river, but the endless blood of heroes.

And where will the heroic blood of this river go?

I stood at the head of the trestle, listening to the murmuring of the water, and was a little distracted for a while, and when I came back to my senses, I saw that Han Zitong had walked behind me.

Today's appointment with Wangjiang Pavilion is that she and her sister invited Yangzhou Mansion Yin Xia in the name of King Jiangxia, and they naturally want to come.

Han Ruoshi is weak and can't stand the river wind, like Pei Yuanxiu, they all sit in the pavilion, only Han Zitong walked to my side, I thought she must be the same as before, dissatisfied with me, and even have bad words against me.

But unexpectedly, she just looked at Jiang Mian coldly and said, "That Yangzhou Mansion Yin, will you come?" ”

I didn't know what she meant, so I said calmly, "I don't know." ”

"I don't think he's coming."

I glanced at her, "Why?" If you don't think he's coming, why should you come? ”

She sneered, "It's just a joke." ”

"Jokes?"

"Look at the palace of the imperial court, dare to cross the river."

I didn't hear it right: "What do you mean?" ”

She slowly turned her head to look at me and smiled, "Don't you know? Our next post is to let Yangzhou Mansion Yin only go to the appointment alone. ”

"What?!"

I was shocked, they actually posted such a post?!

"You said that Yangzhou Mansion Yin, do you have such courage?"

As she spoke, she curled the corners of her lips and looked at me with a sneer: "Still, they don't have the guts at all, then I think we will have to wait for nothing today." ”

“……”

I bit my lower lip.

Now although the forces on both sides of the Yangtze River have not fought, but in the end they are already like fire and water, as soon as Qinghan entered Yangzhou, he killed all the officials arranged by Pei Yuanxiu there, and recovered Yangzhou by almost bloody means, he may not know that he must be hated by this side, if he comes alone, it is tantamount to a sheep into the mouth of a tiger.

There is no benefit at all in this meeting, will he still come?

Han Zitong, why did they do this?

I frowned and thought for a long time before I said slowly: "Are you here to humiliate the people of Yangzhou Mansion?" ”

Han Zitong picked the corner of his eye and sneered.

"Because he seized Yangzhou Mansion, so you make this post. Because the post is placed by a woman, if he doesn't dare to come after reading the post, he will become the laughing stock of the world! ”

Han Zitong sneered: "He can not be the laughing stock of the world, he can come." ”

My brow furrowed even tighter.

He can come, of course he can come.

But what is the difference between crossing the river alone like this and sending it to death!

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel a burst of light, and was about to reprimand her, but suddenly, Han Zitong, who was standing facing the Yangtze River, seemed to see something, and his original sneering expression suddenly froze.

I was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly turned around.

On that vast river, a light boat slowly sailed towards us.