February 211 BC

The sun was released in the sky for the first time in a long time, and although it was gray due to the obscuration of the clouds, it was much better than a cloudy and snowy day. The snow in the courtyard had almost melted, and the little eunuchs took brooms and swept the rest into a pile, and then poured them into the lotus pond of the Zhao Palace. I know that the snow is not cold, the snow is cold, the temperature is frighteningly low these days, Xiao Xu and I are afraid of the cold, and we are dressed very heavy layer by layer, and our actions have become a little sluggish. When we left the courtyard with our luggage, the time was already hour, and the carriage from Xianyang Palace was waiting outside the courtyard early, and when the sun shone, we could see that there were still small ice edges on the eaves.

Sitting in the carriage, I rubbed my hands together and then removed my cloak and put it over my lap. Since there is still some distance between Afang and Weihe, I am going to sleep for a while.

Xiao Xu suddenly spoke.

"Cher, I dreamed of my mother last night. ”

I paused for a moment and was silent for a while before I said, "yes, what did you dream about?"

"She said she couldn't stand me. Xiao Xu gathered his cloak and lowered his eyes: "Still talking...... She couldn't stand my father either. ”

I thought about it for a while, and said softly, "You may miss her, do you want to send some money to your mother this time?"

"No need. Xiao Xu frowned, "She has enjoyed enough glory in her life." ”

"You're still complaining about her. I sighed, "She's your mother after all, why bother." ”

"I don't want to, but I can't get over it. Xiao Xu smiled, this smile was a little bleak, and it made my heart quite sour.

The atmosphere was a bit heavy, and I decided to change the subject.

"Yesterday, the Qin guards came to see you, but you weren't there at the time. I smiled and said, "I also brought some snacks outside the palace, which are your favorite on weekdays." ”

Qin's guard's full name is Qin Yuqi, and he is an ordinary guard in Afang Palace. However, he was born tall and handsome, and he was a perfect match for Xiao Xu.

"He had a heart. Xiao Xu also smiled: "I always bring some gadgets, although they are not valuable, they are extremely intimate." ”

"Do you think too?" I teased her, "I see that you are lukewarm to him on weekdays, and I thought that you turned a blind eye to the good of others, and turned a deaf ear." ”

"The heart of man is flesh, and I am not a heart of stone. Xiao Xu smiled and said helplessly: "Period is a good man who values affection, and I also appreciate his true temperament, but it's a pity that ......"

"What is a pity?" I asked.

"It's a pity that I don't deserve him. Xiao Xu lowered his eyes.

"What are you talking about?" I wasn't very happy: "I used to keep saying that I didn't know how to cherish Changxi, but now when it comes to myself, I actually say this kind of thing." ”

"I'm telling the truth. Xiao Xu smiled: "Don't worry about it first, you will know after listening to me." ”

"I'm not annoyed, I'm just pitiful of the guards. "My mouth was cursed.

"Although he is just a small guard now, his ancestors have been important ministers of Yan for generations, and he is a nobleman of Yan with aristocratic blood, he ...... Destined to make a career. Xiao Xu seemed to sigh, and said with some self-pity: "And I'm just a little dancing girl in Afang Palace, and my mother is like that, even if he doesn't dislike it, it is difficult to guarantee that his people can accept me." ”

"What's the matter, even if you have aristocratic blood, aren't you also a person who has lost the country like us?" I was a little excited: "In such a troubled world, we are all just prisoners of Yingzheng, and no one dislikes other people's capital, let alone dignity and inferiority. Xiao Xu, you remember, as long as the Qin guards don't dislike you, that's enough. ”

"I'm just saying that you're so excited. Xiao Xu shook his head helplessly and said: "Although you and I have grown up together since childhood, sometimes I still can't figure out your mind. ”

I was speechless for a moment.

The conversation stopped, Xiao Xu closed his eyes and recuperated, but I was depressed.

The carriage stopped by the Wei River, Xiao Xu and I got out of the car, and just in time to see the ferry boat parked at the ferry, and the boatman who was sitting on the wooden stake of the ferry and smoking.

"Are you going to cross the river?" the boatman looked at me and Xiao Xu who were holding the package, spit out a puff of cigarette in his mouth, and asked with a smile, "But you are going to visit relatives?"

"Sort of. I smiled, "It's our elders." ”

"I don't want to say that, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait a while. The boatman said: "Today is the day when the prince of Fusu returns to the palace, the boat is going to cross the Wei River, and if you want to cross the river, you must at least wait until dusk." ”

"Dusk?" I looked up at the sky and said helplessly: "It's only now, if we wait until dusk, it is estimated that there will be two hours, and the weather is extremely cold, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on." ”

"Indeed, in such a cold winter weather, it is indeed not convenient for your two girls' families to wait for the boat here. The boatman thought for a while, and then pointed to a faintly visible inn not far from the ferry: "Anyway, there are still two hours, you two might as well go to that inn to rest first." Drink a cup of warm tea, roast a charcoal fire, and when the time comes, you will come again, I can wait for you. ”

Xiao Xu and I looked at each other, thought about it, and finally thanked the boatman, and re-boarded the carriage to the inn he said.

"Why did Childe come back suddenly, didn't we hear that Childe was demoted to Shangjun before we left the palace?" Xiao Xu raised his eyebrows, "I heard that the new Mai Ji said that His Majesty Xià's temper has not been very good recently, isn't it...... Didn't you make a special trip to recall Gongzi to punish the crime?"

"Probably not. I pondered: "In the past, because of his opposition to His Majesty's burning of poetry books and the killing of Confucian students, Gongzi would be demoted to Shangjun. Thinking that the terrain of Shangjun is remote and the conditions are harsh, Childe has already suffered a lot of crimes. Besides, although His Royal Highness punished Gongzi, Gongzi is His Majesty's favorite son, and I don't think His Majesty Xià will punish Gongzi again. ”

"Why did the boy come back now, even if it was the New Year's Day, it was a little late, right?" Xiao Xu frowned.

Seeing her looking like she was thinking hard, I couldn't help but laugh out loud, pinched her face and joked: "I didn't expect you to care so much about national affairs, it really impressed me." ”

She pursed her mouth, slapped my hand away, and said, "Just count your poor mouth." ”

The inn was built by the river, which was naturally relatively simple, Xiao Xu and I got off the car at the door, and the coachman led the horse to ask the store for some forage.

There were only men sitting in the inn, and Xiao Xu and I looked at each other, feeling a little timid.

At this time, there was a sudden sound of the piano, and the sound of the piano was graceful and melodious, very simple and beautiful. Xiao Xu and I glanced at each other, and at the same time looked at the innermost bamboo curtain.

"It's the luthier. I sighed: "I can't imagine that such a remote inn will have such an excellent pianist, it's really buried." ”

"Is it the first time the girl has come to our inn?" Xiao Er greeted him and said happily: "This is not the violinist of our shop, but a passing guest, he thinks our shop is too deserted, so he helps play the piano for fun." ”

"Guest?" I thought about it and whispered in Xiao Xu's ear: "This person is superb in the piano, if we can invite him into the palace, we can also save a lot of heart." ”

"It's best not to be too sure, I don't think this person is like someone who is willing to enter the palace. Xiao Xu whispered back to me: "The music he played is not Gong Yu music, in my opinion, this person is more like a person from the rivers and lakes, or a ranger, or a swordsman." ”

"Jianghu people......" I pondered for a while, and suddenly reached out and grabbed Xiao Er, who was busy greeting guests, put some money in the small second-hand and said: "The two of us are estimated to stay here for nearly two hours, please trouble the little brother to find a good seat for us, it is best to ......" I pointed to the bamboo curtain, "get close to there." ”