"Cheng Yuan, do you really want to give up the great future of the imperial capital and go to the clouds with me? Before you leave the city, you still have a chance to regret it. ”

Chu Zhixia lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at Cheng Yuan outside the carriage and asked. Cheng Yuan was fully armed, silver-armored and white-armed, and guarded Chu Zhixia's side of Cheluan uprightly and straightly.

"The Yunzhong Military Brigade is a place that the Great Zhou Wufu yearns for, and the eldest lady gives her subordinates this opportunity, and the subordinates are honored." Cheng Yuan said with a smile.

"Don't say stupid things." Chu Zhixia said, "The military in the clouds is born and died, and it is not as powerful as the Yulin guard, and it is comfortable and rich. I have given you the glory and riches you have asked for. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, there will be no more Wang Xianfu and others in the Great Zhou. Why are you doing this? ”

"Glory and wealth are given by the eldest lady; The life of the family was also given by the eldest lady. Cheng Yuan has no long things, only a cheap life, and he is willing to be the pawn of the eldest lady. Cheng Yuan was true and said, "I hope that Miss will not give up." ”

Chu Zhixia was stunned for a moment and smiled with relief.

"Okay."

While the two were talking, the car slowly drove out of the towering walls of the imperial capital.

A long bell rang in the air for no reason, and Chu Zhixia looked back at the snow-covered street, and a few sparse wisps of cooking smoke rose, blurring the thick and colorful glazed roof of the palace wall in the distance.

"It's the bell in the palace." Cheng Yuan suddenly said, "It's really strange, there shouldn't be anything bigger than the death of the first emperor recently, why did you ring the bell for no reason?" ”

Chu Zhixia put away the complicated emotions in his eyes and responded: "Yes, it's really strange. ”

The last face of Chu Zhixia and the one in the palace was to give each other "Guanyin Dashi Tu". When the door of Weiyang Palace was closed, the proton in the cloud and the unambitious four princes were strangled at the same time. No matter how heavy the rain will be in the middle of summer next year, today's monarchs and ministers are no longer allies of the past.

So Bai Ziche didn't come to see her off.

When the deceased leaves, only the bell rings to send them off.

I wish you a triumphant and successful retirement.

——

On the seventh day after leaving the imperial capital, the Ministry of Rites announced that the new emperor would adopt a new era name, "Xuande", in the early spring of the following year. The night Chu Zhixia received the news, he had a high fever for no reason, and he was immersed in a terrifying nightmare all night.

Chu Mingxiu committed suicide by drinking poison in Weiyang Palace, laughing "The king wants the minister to die, and the minister has to die"; Chu Mingyan guarded the empty Zhenbei Wangfu, and kept the truth of his brother's death until he died; Shen Zhou made a desperate attempt to assassinate Bai Huan and the regent on the execution ground.

A pair of bleeding eyes replayed upside down in Chu Zhixia's dream, slicing open and hollowing out her heart, tearing out the dense blood vessels in it, making her feel painful.

Shen Zhou held the back of Chu Zhixia's neck and reluctantly poured her a little hot water. Shen Zhou pressed his cold hand to Chu Zhixia's forehead, trying to lower her temperature.

"I used to wonder why my eldest brother was born weak."

Chu Zhixia saved up some strength, leaned on Shen Zhou's chest, and said, "When my brother was born, it coincided with my father's northern expedition. If the destiny of heaven is destined to die in the Great Zhou, then the suffering inflicted on the eldest brother by God may be the price of the father and mother to change their lives against the sky. 'Thirteen years of auspicious charms, the snow pass was broken, and the Great Zhou died', even if the Northern Expedition was victorious, this proverb was not cracked. But now there has been no auspicious charm for thirteen years, and as my mother said, the trajectory of history has changed. And that's the price I'm paying. ”

Chu Zhixia held his fingers in Shen Zhou's worried gaze, his gaze burning like fire, "I'm very happy, the more the gods want to torture me, the more it means that I am already qualified to sit at the gambling table and wrestle with him." ”

Shen Zhou wrapped Chu Zhixia tighter with a big coat, like a mother beast warming her young beast with her belly. Chu Zhixia sucked his body temperature, and the breath he exhaled was scorching hot. She looked out the window at the undulating lines of the mountains, snow-capped.

There are still two days left to enter the territory of the northern part of the country.

"It's amazing." Shen Zhou whispered, "Then do you want to sleep?" I will hold the sword couch for you, and the ghosts and gods will not invade. Even if the world turns upside down, I can get you a few hours of restful sleep. ”

"You're the same mother-in-law as Yuzhu now." Chu Zhixia muttered.

"Yuzhu is going to be angry when she hears it." Shen Zhou gently kissed her ear and said, "Get some sleep, you're so hot." I hold you like a small stove, don't you feel hot yourself? ”

"I feel cold." Chu Zhixia closed his eyes groggily.

In a drowsy mood, Chu Zhixia felt that someone had unbuttoned her clothes and wiped her whole body with a handkerchief soaked in water, like wiping a fragile piece of porcelain, precious and careful. This night, Chu Zhixia was still in a nightmare and couldn't extricate herself, but she could already watch those lives fall apart in front of her indifferently.

10th year of auspicious charm, December 28.

Uzeki-do Road is an official road sandwiched between two mountains, with deep forests on both sides, and in the middle of summer, it looks like a thick green wave undulating from a distance. And in winter, the snow layer accumulated in the mountains on both sides of the Uguan Road is thick enough to cause a snow quicksand that cracks the sky and the earth.

It is strictly ordered in the north that those who enter the Maoguan Road in winter are not allowed to walk loudly, so as not to cause snow and quicksand. It is precisely because of this that there have never been rogue bandits in Uguan Road. After all, the snow quicksand is treated equally, whether it is robbed or robbed, there is only one death when encountering snow quicksand.

Chu Mingxiu has always wanted to find another way, bypassing Maoguan Road and rebuilding an official road. However, the terrain here is precipitous, and this matter is not easy, and half of the financial resources of the northern part of the country are spent on armaments, so that the matter of repairing the official road has been delayed again and again.

Chu Zhixia sat in the carriage, took off the Buddhist beads on his wrist and stroked them, and turned over the notes on his lap with his other hand. This is the memories of her past life, including the large and small wars in the places where Beidi started, locations, generals, numbers, and tactics. She had nightmares at night, and when she woke up in the morning, she revised and perfected the notebook.

Chu Zhixia felt that the speed of the carriage had slowed down, and when he opened the curtains, he saw that he had already entered Maoguan Road.

It's to the north of the city.

Chu Zhixia's tense mood was relaxed for a moment.

Cheng Yuan was talking to Shen Zhou with great interest, Shen Zhou nodded ignorantly, and Cheng Yuan was not angry - Shen Zhou's nodding showed that he was listening, and his ability to listen to people was already a very high salary.

Shen Zhou noticed Chu Zhixia's gaze, looked back at her and smiled.

Before Shen Zhou could speak, he suddenly heard several muffled thunderous sounds from the hillsides on both sides. Chu Zhixia and Shen Zhou's faces changed at the same time, Shen Zhou's speed was incredibly fast, and he grabbed Chu Shixia out of the carriage and galloped wildly. The rest of the team didn't even look at it, their faces sank in unison, and the order "Don't hurry and shout" was immediately nullified, and they rushed out like crazy.

"Let's go, it's snow quicksand!" Chu Zhixia yelled at Cheng Yuan, who was in a daze.

The sky darkened.

The snow and dust rising from the top of the mountain covered the sky for a while. The roaring waves of snow rushed down from the top of the mountain, and the trees on the hillside were broken by the waist, and they were invincible and pounced on the fleeing humans on the Upassi Road.

——

in the cloud.

"Send someone to find it, and live to see someone...... Death is to see the corpse. Chu Mingxiu crumpled the secret report into a ball and threw it into the brazier, a chill appeared in his chest, "I can't let my brother know about this matter, absolutely not." ”

"The snow quicksand has just happened, and if you trespass into the Uguan Road at this time, I am afraid that it will cause a second snow quicksand." The general hesitated for a moment and said, "What's more, there is only one exit from the Uguan Road. If the eldest lady and King Jin don't come out, I'm afraid there will be more luck than lucky. ”

Surely death. The general thought so in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it.

Chu Mingyan's eyes were too terrifying, as if he wanted to swallow his life alive.

"I'll let you find it!" Chu Mingxiu slammed the teacup and scolded in a low voice, "I don't care what method you use, whether it's scouts or spies, you have to find people out if you dig three feet into the ground!" Do you think it's King Jin who died, it's my sister? Dead for a hundred? ”

"Changle is my brother's life! If Changle can't be found, my brother won't be able to live! Chu Mingxiu's eyes were red, and he said, "Before I find Changle, if anyone dares to leak half a sentence about the snow and quicksand of Maoguan Road to the King of Zhenbei, I will peel off his skin." ”

"Yes."

The subordinate went out reluctantly, and Chu Mingxiu sat down in a chair, his limbs numb. He finished approving the official document that Chu Mingyan didn't have time to read, and went through it again to make sure that there were no mistakes, before getting up and leaving the study.

The day after tomorrow is Chinese New Year's Eve.

Colorful lanterns were hung in the palace in the north of the town, and even the maids were wearing red flowers on their buns. Chu Mingxiu saw Chu Mingyan standing under the eaves at a glance, stretching out his hand to play with a marquee.

After Chu Mingyan returned from the imperial capital, he fell seriously ill again, his face became more and more pale, and his body became thinner and thinner, like a candle flame that would be extinguished at any time. Chu Mingyan was dressed in a large crimson coat, and there were two points of light blood on his cheeks, and it didn't look like he would fall down at any time.

Chu Mingxiu's eyes were slightly sour. Chu Mingxiu knew that Chu Mingyan was beating his spirit, and his body only needed a straw to overwhelm him now. And the breath that supported Chu Mingyan was Chu Zhixia's return date.

When Chu Mingyan looked over, Chu Mingxiu had already cleaned up the look on his face.

"Why do you wear such an old coat, haven't you cut new clothes this year?" Chu Mingxiu asked.

"It's really old." Chu Mingyan glanced at him, "This is the red fox that Changle hunted when he was thirteen years old, and he made it by peeling off the skin. You originally had one, but when you got it, you laughed at her for not being good at archery, and almost shot crookedly, so angry that she snatched it back. You don't remember, do you? ”

Chu Mingxiu lowered his eyes and touched his nose with a weak and sad heart.

"If you're not well, just rest in the house, what are you going to hang around when you're old?" Chu Mingxiu pressed Chu Mingyan's shoulder and pushed him into the room, "Even if you stand here for a day, Changle won't go home for a day less, and you will blow your body in vain." ”

"I'm always uneasy." Chu Mingyan sighed in his heart, "Who wrote the poem that marquee?" It's too unlucky, let's withdraw. ”

"Okay."

Chu Mingxiu turned around and went out and took down the marquee that Chu Mingyan had just been playing with. There is a hinge in the marquee, and the paper silhouette in the lamp rotates with the heat of the candle, which is very exquisite. Chu Mingxiu glanced at the poems and paintings on the lamp, and the portrait of the military general on horseback happened to turn in front of him.

"Qingshan Road is far away and the days are short, and the yellow sand covers the bones and the white horse is still there."

Chu Mingxiu shook his hand, and the fire candle in the marquee lamp fell, and the whole lamp burned in front of his eyes.

——

"Second son, I really can't get in, the snowdrifts have blocked the road."

The general said bitterly: "Maoguan Road is sandwiched by two mountains, it is a groove, and the snow is overwhelming, if there is the slightest tremor, it will cause the second snow quicksand at any time." What's more, a day has passed, even if you are lucky enough to be buried alive in the snow and not die on the spot, it will be too late at this moment. ”

Chu Mingxiu closed his eyes, feeling tired for a while.

His sister's life is fate, and so is the soldier's life. At this moment, if people forcibly break into the Maoguan Road, it is undoubtedly paving the way for human lives. It was precisely because the subordinates knew this that they had the courage to discuss with Chu Mingxiu.

Chu Mingxiu waved his hand to signal him to go down, walked to the eaves alone, and stared blankly at the falling snow outside.

"Chang'an."

Chu Mingxiu's body trembled violently, and he looked at Chu Mingyan in disbelief who didn't know how long he had been standing outside the study. It was even deeper and heavier, and Chu Mingyan's face was like the enamel on white porcelain in the moonlight, white, greasy, and brittle, and it collapsed with one blow.

"Who was buried alive by the snow quicksand?" Chu Mingyan was holding a cup of tonic soup in his hand, his fingertips were burned red without knowing it, and he stared at Chu Mingxiu directly.

Chu Mingxiu thought after realizing that he was here to bring me soup. Maybe it was because the fatigue in the day was too obvious that Chu Mingyan came to do it himself. After all, Chu Mingyan was sick, and the military and political affairs in Yunzhong were all taken care of by Chu Mingxiu.

"Who was buried alive by the snow quicksand?" Chu Mingyan asked again, his voice trembling.

"Big brother, don't get excited, there is no confirmation yet......"

"There is no confirmation, why are you hiding the news? In fact, you also think that she is dead, so you don't dare to let me know. Chu Mingyan took a deep breath with difficulty, almost unable to hold the soup in his hand, "There is snow and quicksand in Maoguan Road?" ”

"Yes." Chu Mingxiu stepped forward and wanted to hold him, but he pushed him away.

"Prepare the carriage, I'll look for it. My sister, there is no reason to ask someone else to fill in with their lives. I'll find it myself. Chu Mingyan stumbled out, and the hot soup fell to the ground, spilling his hands all over his hand, scalding a string of blisters.

"Big brother, your illness is not cured yet, I'll set out to find it." Chu Mingxiu said eagerly, "Changle, she doesn't have to-"

Chu Mingyan's vain footsteps suddenly paused, and the back of his hand holding the window lattice protruded with blue and purple blood vessels. He pressed his chest and gasped violently for a moment, unable to suppress the blood gushing in his throat any longer, and choked out a mouthful of blood.

"Big brother!"

——

Chu Mingyan woke up again, and there was chaos in front of him. Chu Mingyan vaguely felt that someone had applied a needle to his arm, awakening him to the last trace of sanity. He thought to himself, why did he faint all of a sudden?

Chu Mingyan suddenly remembered.

Changle was buried alive by the snow quicksand.

His sister, a step away from home, was buried alive by the snow quicksand.

"The prince's old illness has not been cured, and his body is like a lamp in the wind, and there is a sudden change, and he is angry and bloody, but I am afraid that it will be more auspicious." The doctor's vicissitudes of life voice sounded in Chu Mingyan's ears, "The second son should have made plans for a long time." ”

"Big brother, can you hear me?" Chu Mingxiu said in his ear, with a faint cry, "I have already sent someone to find Changle, and I will definitely take her home." You wait, wait for me. ”

Chu Mingyan vaguely remembered the scene when Chu Zhixia was born.

Shen Yan, who was weak, stuffed the little girl into his hand with her own hands, and her sweaty palms touched his cheeks. Shen Yu didn't say anything, just gently put the little girl's tender hand in the young man's palm.

Their pulses seemed to be co-frequented in that moment.

Chu Mingyan stubbornly believed that Chu Zhixia was the last gift left to him by Shen Yan, so he had to protect Chu Zhixia. Her teacher, her husband, her future must be the best. But the heavens did not fulfill people's wishes, and Chu Mingyan watched her step on the crumbling single-plank bridge again and again.

Now, she finally shattered.

And there is nothing he can do.

"Chang'an," Chu Mingyan's voice was hoarse and weak, "I'm so tired." ”