The candles in the tent were dim, and from time to time there were patrolling Hun soldiers passing outside, Zhang Yan closed the curtain and did not come out, lying on the kang and sighing. I knew very well that even if I had already met Timirona, it did not mean that she would be safe in the future.

Time flies, and each and every one of them changes. Including Artie, but also herself. If Timi Rona, who met in Chang'an three years ago, still has some remnants of Luo Mi on her body, and she has some true feelings for herself. So, after three years of tempering, today's Timirona has probably almost completely become the Ati clan of the Huns, right?

They still smiled at each other, but they found helplessly in their hearts that they could no longer find the feeling of intimacy they had back then.

Also.

Zhang Yan lowered her head and laughed at herself.

This should have been expected a long time ago.

When two former close friends parted ways because of different positions, and went on their own for three years after separation, how could they still have no gaps as before?

A golden crow gradually fell to the west of the vast fields of the Northlands, and the sky was filled with an indifferent twilight. Whenever this is the case, it is always easy for people to feel sad and miss their relatives and lovers who are far away.

Liu Ying......

Zhang Yan hesitated, unwilling to think of this name herself, but often thought of him inadvertently.

That day, when he woke up from his slumber and found that he was no longer by his side, he should have gone crazy, right?

He may be impulsive, he may blame himself, but those who are with him will eventually persuade him. And he is not the kind of lover who wants beauty and not the country after all.

The things that were done for him that day felt very tragic at the time, but now that I look back, I also feel that they are normal.

Hold on, I just want you to be safe, you want to be in Chang'an, in our Weiyang Palace. Be safe and sound, wait for me to come back.

With a "clang", Tana brought the warm soup into the tent and stacked the copper basin in his hand stiffly on the table. The cold wind blowing in from the unveiled curtain made Zhang Yan squint her eyes and ordered, "Tana, go and put the curtain down." ”

Tana snorted, crossed his waist and said disdainfully, "Han family boy, what do you think you are?" Can you call me? ”

Zhang Yan sat up from the kang and looked at the maid, the corners of her lips curled up in a cold arc. "Guess what," said a soft voice, "if I tell you this, will she defend you?" ”

Tana was stunned. In front of him, he was obviously just an inconspicuous-looking young man from the Han family, but when he straightened his back. exudes an aura that makes people dare not disobey, as if the dignity is not inferior to the Ati clan.

Zhang Yan glanced at her, looked away again, and said lightly, "No matter who I am, you are just a slave." ”

Tana was captivated by her momentum. For a moment he was speechless. It was only at this time that I vaguely figured out that this Han kid was really a person who was nothing. How could Arti Yan specifically point out a tent to house him and order him to serve him? After that, I didn't dare to be presumptuous, and I did everything I needed to do such as serving tea and pouring water.

In the night, looking at Tana, who had fallen asleep on the low kang in the corner of the tent, Zhang Yan sighed softly.

Artie keeps Tana to herself. Except for the meaning of care, more. I'm afraid it's to monitor my every move.

Actually, Artie really didn't need to worry so much. She is just a woman, powerless, and now she is in the Hun military camp, as long as she is a strong Hun maid, she can easily look at herself.

In the quiet of the night, Tana was suddenly heard snorting.

Zhang Yan only felt that the cold hairs all over her body stood up, her body tensed, and she looked at the tent and didn't know when a black shadow appeared, slowly walking towards her in the dark.

"It's me."

The sound has a familiarity that comes from memory.

Zhang Yan didn't dare to light a candle in the enemy camp, and it took a while to recognize the slight darkness of the night, the person who came was dressed in black, holding a sword, and it was she who had lived with her in the north for most of the year

"Meng Guan."

For a moment, ecstasy drowned Zhang Yan, her voice trembled slightly, listening to the heartbeat in her chest, it took a while to calm down, with a hint of disbelief and hesitation, "This is the big tent of the Xiongnu Chinese army, can you actually come in?" ”

Meng Guan smiled proudly, "I'm a close disciple of the heroic Zhu family, if I want to say that I can save you by riding a sword alone, it's impossible, but if it's just hiding your tracks in the army, it's just a matter of raising your hands." ”

A few faint words, although it is an understatement, but Zhang Yan can understand the effort that Meng Guan has put in, from the siege of Yunzhong City, all the way to the army of Lou Fu Wang, to infiltrating the Hun military camp, avoiding the sight of the patrol soldiers, and finding her whereabouts, it is by no means as simple as Meng Guan said.

She lowered her head slightly, because the kindness was too great, but she didn't want to thank her easily, and only asked, "Is it convenient for you to sneak in this barracks?" ”

"No problem." Meng Guan responded arrogantly, and knew the elegance when he heard the string song, and knew that Zhang Yan was letting himself hide his traces and protect her side.

The moonlight penetrated through the ventilation hole above the tent and shone on Zhang Yan's face, revealing a shallow smile, "Meng Guan, thank you." ”

He turned his head uncomfortably in such a beautiful smile, and said in a vicious voice, "The one-year period we agreed on has not yet expired. When the first month of next year passes, you will die in front of me, and I don't care. ”

Zhang Yan couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips and laughed, "Okay, then the next four months, please." ”

In the autumn and August of the seventh year of the first century (24th), after the initial passive beating, to the later stalemate, the Han Dynasty army finally began its own counterattack. Quzhou Hou Lishang led 30,000 material officials, and the Xiongnu Aries King deployed to fight, defeated, so retreated to the direction of the Han Border, Aries King Heze was arrogant, led the army to chase after him, and was introduced into the Shandong Valley of the sentence note set up an ambush earlier by the infant. The terrain of the valley was narrow, the advantage of the Huns on horses was limited, and they were outflanked and intercepted by the Han army, after a day and a night of killing, the Han army was killed and wounded more than 20%, but the king of Aries also left 10,000 cavalry and fled in embarrassment.

"Hesser, that idiot." In the big tent of the Huns, Qu Yuan was furious, "What about arrogance, thinking that you are invincible?" Such an obvious ambush can't be seen. He deserved to be defeated. ”

"King Zuoguli," Pi Xiaowang reminded softly, "After all, the Aries King is the master of a part......

"I know." Qu Yu endured his breath.

"Actually. "Lord," said his subordinates, "at this time, we might as well retire." ”

"This time, the Xiongnu took advantage of the unpreparedness of the Han Dynasty, and they had taken advantage of it, but by this time, the Xiongnu had slowly exhausted themselves in the Han realm. The fiasco of the Aries King this time is of course due to his own pride and arrogance, but it is also because of the rise of the Han people. If you go down in the Han land, you are the king of Zuogu Li. I'm afraid that I won't be able to please anything in the end. ”

Qu Yuan waved his hand, "I'll think about it, you go down." ”

He asked the maid who was guarding outside the tent of the king. "Is the Yan clan in there?"

"I've seen the king of the left valley," the maid crossed her hands on her chest and bowed her knees at the same time, "in." ”

Timirona was sitting on a large sheet of white paper drawing something when she saw him enter the account. Ah, his eyebrows couldn't help but rise, and he threw down the wolf pen and hugged him.

"Brother."

On the Huquan chair on the side, Xiaobai proudly raised his head and called "whoa". Years later. He has grown into an adult wolf, still with a snow-white coat, majestic and beautiful.

"Artie. Do you want to be alone? Qu Yu suddenly asked.

Timilona had a strange look on her face, "I don't want to." Turning his back, he said with a negative air, "He has countless concubines again, where do you remember me?" ”

Qu Yu shook his head. couldn't help but persuade, "You are his big clan." Although Shan Yu spoils you, he is moody and murderous. Artie, you're acting so recklessly, it's better to be careful. ”

"Don't worry," Timilona stroked Xiaobai's fur and said lightly, "Shan Yu won't like a woman who only knows submissiveness, I know his bottom line, and I know it." ”

Qu Yu sighed in his heart. His sister is very good in his heart. But as a man, he must say that Artie is too arrogant and not pitiful. wanted to untie her, but didn't know how to speak, after a long time, Fang patted his sister's forehead, "Prepare to prepare, in a few days, we will return to the Huns." ”

"Brother," Timilona looked at Qu Plover in shock, "Why?" ”

"Our Hun Erlang never retreats in battle, and now the victory or defeat with the Han army is undecided, why do we have to retreat?"

"How?" Qu Qi glanced at his sister and said with a smile, "I thought you didn't want me to fight the Han people?" Could it be that when did you change your mind and hope that your brother would continue to fight with the Han Chinese? ”

"It's not." Timirona paused and said, "I still don't want the Xiongnu to fight with the Han, I'm just a little curious. After all," she glanced at Qu Yuan, "the Han had just won a battle in Juzhu Mountain. I thought that according to my brother's temperament, he would fight all the way to the end. Although the Aries King lost, we still have so many Hun warriors, and you. You don't know how rare this opportunity is. If we miss this time, we may not be able to seize such an opportunity for seven or eight years-"

"Alright, Artie."

Qu Plover interrupted him.

"I heard that there was turmoil in the Han people in Chang'an not long ago, and if we continue to fight them, then, under the foreign enemy, they will be able to unite with the same enemy. But if we retreat, maybe they'll fight themselves. In the final analysis, even if we make peace with the Han Dynasty now, we have taken a big advantage. And the Han is now leading the army to irrigate the baby, and the merchants are also famous generals, and if they continue to fight, they will only lose both. Moreover, the news that has just arrived from Chang'an," he said softly, slowing his voice, "that emperor of the Han Dynasty has recovered from his illness. ”

Timilona was stunned and said, "What did you say?" ”

"I said, on the first day of the eighth month of autumn, the Han Emperor visited the high temple, and then killed the king of Qi and stabilized the dynasty, and then, he should free up his hands to deal with us with all his might."

"Han Emperor Liu Ying is still alive?" Timilona was still surprised.

"Absolutely."

"How is that possible? Wait, let me think about it. ”

Her head began to spin.

With the history of faith as the foundation, her speculation is not a bold speculation out of thin air. Moreover, whether it is the Han official of Shangjun or the rumor that the emperor of Chang'an is seriously ill, she has not appeared in front of everyone for many days, which supports her inference.

- How could such a big turn suddenly happen?

unless

Something unexpected happened.

Not as expected......

Ah Yan?

Right.

Since the beginning of this year, there has been no one who has not appeared in front of everyone in Chang'an for a long time, except for Emperor Liu Ying of the Han Dynasty. It is Queen Zhang Yan.

Ah Yan, she used her inherent ideas and skillfully played tricks with her to deceive herself, just to hide some facts, and the fact that was concealed is likely to be a shocking secret that can affect the future fate of the two countries.

Timirona suddenly ran out of the tent.

"Artie." Qu Yuan called her in amazement, "What's wrong with you?" ”

"I'm going to find someone and ask something."

Timilona replied in a hurry from the wind.

The steep north wind roared in from outside the curtain that had been lifted from the "hula". Timirona rushed in from outside and asked, "Ah Yan." You've been lying to me. ”

"You used your perfect acting skills to play a lovelorn and devastated self to the fullest, just to hide a fact. It's in the clouds that have been left behind by the Huns - Liu Ying was in the clouds at the time, wasn't it? ”

In the unmanned tent, Zhang Yan stood up elegantly and sneered. "You don't already believe what you've guessed, so why bother asking me?"

"You-"

Timirona felt remorseful for a moment.

Brother Qu Yu always said that he was proud and conceited, and one day he would fall into this situation. But she never believed it. Today, it seems, that is indeed the case. She had already preset a possibility in her mind, and then asked Ah Yan to argue Ah Yan's answer to her own presupposition. So I believed it even more, and didn't doubt anything else at all.

In fact, maybe it was because she didn't believe in the kind of love described in the previous romance at all. In this distant time and space. Whether it is her or Ah Yan, both of them love too hard, from the deepest part of her heart, she has no possibility of thinking that Ah Yan loves the man. will be willing to chase her to where she is for the sake of Ah Yan. Just to get her favor.

Timirona closed her eyes.

Heaven gave her a puzzle, and Ah Yan's eyebrows brought a hint of sorrow, misleading her into other directions. If she had been able to be more careful and sensitive, guess this puzzle, and decisively attack Yunzhong City and capture Liu Ying. No matter how good Liu Ying is, he is also the rightful son of the Han Dynasty, the son-in-law of Han Gaozu, and the only son of Empress Dowager Lu. With him in hand, there is nothing to gain. Why bother with such a hard-fought battle of the Han army?

However, her self-righteousness allowed her to let go of the best opportunity.

For a while, the frustration of being deceived and Zhang Yan's coldness made her angry, "Don't think that I dare not touch you." ”

"I don't dare to think you wouldn't." Zhang Yan smiled coldly, "What don't you dare?" You're already too daring. ”

"What do you mean?"

"What can I mean?" Zhang Yan turned around and said lightly, "Now that I am in your hands, I want to kill or chop, listen to it." What else could it be interesting? ”

Timirona suddenly became sad, "Ah Yan, I remember, that year, I didn't go home, for the New Year, other people's families were eating Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, and I was alone in the bedroom with a stomachache. At that time, I really felt very lonely, and I had no choice but to call you. As a result, you ran three streets just to buy me a soup woman. ”

Zhang Yan's expression gradually softened.

"What a friendship we used to be." Timilona sighed, "How did you get to this point?" ”

Zhang Yan endured and endured, and finally couldn't help but say, "Isn't it because of you that we have come to this point?" ”

"What do you mean?" Timilona was slightly surprised.

"Artie, don't take everyone else for fools." Zhang Yan raised her head, her face was gloomy, and her eyes like apricots looked at her former friend, full of melancholy, "I want to do it too, we have always been in the past." But Atie, you and I can't even deceive myself. ”

"Ah Yan," Timilona put away her sad expression and said lightly, "Are you stupid, what are you talking about?" ”

"Why did you suddenly come to me and ask me about my uncle's whereabouts?" Zhang Yan put away the last smile on her lips and said coldly, "Because this is really unexpected by you, isn't it?" ”

She turned around and sat on the Huquan chair, her voice deep and with a faint pain, "These days, I have been thinking about why the Huns sent troops at this time. Over the years, just as you know the Han Dynasty, I also know the Xiongnu. That's right. At this time, the Han did not have the strength to attack the Xiongnu in an all-round way, but at the same time, the Xiongnu did not have the time to attack the Han in a big way. Your Hun army went south this time, but it was just taking advantage of the fire to rob. And to be able to prepare so thoroughly, so unexpectedly, and appear in the Northland at such a point in time, the Xiongnu must have begun to prepare a month or even two months ago. ”

"Artie," she said, looking up at Timirona. The voice was calm and sharp, "Except for you, no one in the whole Hun will know." My uncle should have died this year. ”

There was a dead silence in the tent, and Timilona's face was cloudy, and she suddenly sighed, "Why do you want to find out what is going on?" ”

Something. If it's torn, it's never going to come back.

Some things, if not picked, will always maintain the illusion of warmth. is like her "friendship" with Timirona, but at this time, she can't even hold up the veil of surface and beauty.

Zhang Yan didn't know that people were under the eaves and had to bow her head. There are some things, even if you can't bear it. You should also swallow it with blood, continue to smile, and whitewash the peace. But. Sometimes, she also needs to maintain her self-esteem and has to fight against the water.

Artie, we're all so proud. I'd rather be awake and cry bitterly than be confused with happiness.

"That's it." A faint smile appeared on Timilona's face, and her beautiful chin was raised. Looking down and arrogant, "Do you want to know, how is your uncle doing at this time?" ”

"When you were trapped in the Huns for him, he had quietly returned to Chang'an, and a few days ago appeared in front of the high temple, and attacked Liu Xiang, the king of Qi, who intended to force the palace. At the same time, Liu Yi, the eldest son of the emperor, was the king of Huaiyang. ”

Timirona smiled a little maliciously, "Look, you are still here hanging between life and death for his life, but he is already in Chang'an to hug his beautiful young child, Ah Yan, are you worth it?" ”

Zhang turned his head, his face was indifferent, "You're not me, how do you know if I think it's worth it?" To be a human being in this world, you must always repay the good of others. Even if I don't think about the relationship between husband and wife, he has treated me really well over the years, and I can do something for him, and I am always willing. ”

Timirona snorted, and wanted to lift the curtain to leave, but stopped under the curtain and never looked back, her voice was light, "Believe it or not, this battle is indeed not the first thing I provoked. And who was the one who first instigated Shan Yu to go to war against the Great Han, do you want to guess it? ”

"Who is it?"

Timirona laughed, "It's what you think about, the princess of Chu who specially entrusted me to take care of last time - she resented the Han Dynasty for forcing her to make peace with the Xiongnu, so she strongly persuaded Shan Yu to send troops, and the princess of Chu is now very favored by Mao Dun in the royal court." ”

Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment and couldn't speak.

She thought of the beautiful and glamorous lord of Chu back then. The woman who stood proudly on the streets of Chang'an and said to herself, "Curse you for not being loved in this life and this life". The memories that have been stranded for several years come alive in my heart. From the lord of Weng above 10,000 people, to the stranger who is close to the Huns. The difference is very different. Hateful and pitiful. She was angry at Liu Chu's behavior, but deep down. I understood her pain and resentment, and I was stunned for a while.

Fate is scattered like cherry blossom petals. In the past, those who occupied all the glory were scattered in various places with the breeze of fate, and when they were in the world, they could not be predicted.

A tear dripped out of Zhang Yan's bright apricot eyes. Timirona seemed to be comforted by something, and was already giggling and going out.

Zhang Yan lowered her head and looked at the felt cushion that Timilona had just sat on, and a large amount of water shone in her eyes. Finally, he took out the dagger from his bosom, and with a swipe, cut the mat in half.

After that, the Han and Hungarian armies confronted each other, fought several battles in Yanmen, Taiyuan, Daiguo and other places, won and lost each other, and finally sent envoys to negotiate peace. The envoy sent by Liu Ying was Wuyang Hou Fan.

In the king's tent, Timirona played with the letter of state in her hand and looked at Zhang Yan's expression. "Ah Yan, do you know what Fan Yan asked this time?"

"What requirements?"

"Ransom prisoners of war." Timirona's eyes were dyed with a strange color, and she giggled, "That uncle of yours obviously doesn't know the relationship between you and me, and wants to get you back, and is afraid that we will know your identity, so he actually used such a trick." It's really ......" stopped with a smile, his expression seemed to be teasing, and he seemed helpless.

Zhang Yan held down her heart and was slightly turbulent, took the jade paper made of national letters handed over by Timirona, and glanced at it lightly.

Liu Ying first reprimanded Han and Hungary for entering into a marriage and being a country of friendship, but this time he wantonly provoked a war and plundered the four northern counties. An armistice was then called for, and in the final epilogue, a claim for the redemption of prisoners of war was lightly proposed. Under the national letter, there is not only the seal of the Son of Heaven, but also the jade seal of the country obtained from the hands of the late Qin State.

She controlled the look on her face and didn't show a trace.

When he was in the clouds with Liu Ying, he later dissolved his previous suspicions, and between his ears and temples, he naturally knew most of the things around Liu Ying. He wore a white dragon fish suit, and left two of the jade seals and the three imperial seals in Chang'an, but took the seal of the Son of Heaven with him.

The purple seal of the Son of Heaven on the national letter proves that Liu Ying has returned to Chang'an safely.

Although she had heard about it from the Huns before, it was only after seeing the seal of the Son of Heaven that she really put her mind at ease. Closing the national letter, he said softly, "Although he has a heart, he can only be disappointed." ”

The gentleness in her eyes stimulated Timirona, and she couldn't help but say, "He knows that you are in the hands of the Huns, and your life and death are unknown, but he lives freely in Chang'an, and he doesn't necessarily love you much?" ”

Zhang Yan looked at her strangely, "Then what do you think he should do?" Will you go to the Northland alone to save me? ”

"Ati, each of us has a lot of things in our lives. It's not just about love. It is enough to do one or two crazy things in a person's life. At the beginning, he was able to leave his home and country behind in order to recover me. I'm already satisfied. I may feel a little sad that he can't be by my side at a time when my country is in danger, but I know he's doing the right thing. The princes of the beacon fire opera, romantic enough? But the country was defeated. ”

After finishing speaking, I inadvertently saw Timirona's eyes show a little dazed, and suddenly I was a little sad.

They have also seen some stories in which the heroine travels back to the past time and space, and everything is going well. How enviable, but until I was there, I didn't know that those were fake.

"Artie," she said, looking up at Timilona with a pair of apricot eyes, "if I say that I would love to go back to him, will you let me go?" ”

Timirona was silent for a while and said, "If you are just an ordinary woman, I naturally don't want to break up the mandarin ducks, and I want to have adult beauty." It's a pity you're not. ”

You and I are the same country, and we have the knowledge and vision cultivated in the future thousands of years later, so as to help our husbands and kings become rich and strong countries. As the Xiongnu's Yanshi, I can't watch such a help return to the Han Dynasty and indirectly weaken the Xiongnu.

Although, at the same time, I don't want to completely turn my back on friendship and hurt your life.

Zhang Yan nodded and smiled, "I guessed that it would be like this." ”

"Okay." Artie thought for a moment and suddenly smiled, "Between men and women, if they are together, they will gather, and if they are not together, they will be separated." But that's it. It's better to be like this, since the big man Ah Yan can't go back, I have been missing Ah Yan's tightness. It's better for Ah Yan to accompany me back to the Huns. What's so good about Liu Ying, it's just an emperor, and we also have gentle and considerate sons and daughters among the Huns, I'll give Ah Yan a matchmaker. ”

——7,000 words, revised May 18, 2011

**********

Note: The penultimate chapter, excited, sprinkled with flowers.