Zhou Li has a memory: spring search, summer seedling, autumn hunting, winter hunting. According to the old practice, at the beginning of the cold winter every year, the royal family would have a huge hunt, and the Son of Heaven would check the three armies in the hunting ground on this day and reward the hundred officials.

At the entrance of the South Lake, a white dress turned down the towering banyan tree, staggered along the lake, and with a 'bang', the wine jug hooked by his finger fell into the river, rippling away with the undulating water waves.

Zuo Qing cautiously approached the white-clothed man and leaned him towards the shore at the same time.

"Ridiculous?" West Lou asked suddenly.

"You mean winter hunting?"

"Winter hunting has existed in ancient times, but the first emperor could not bear to kill, so he abandoned it, even if the number of livestock in Rong Kingdom had reached an unprecedented peak, he still did not want to restart, but in the winter every year symbolically put a few hares and pheasants for the princes to experience hunting. But as soon as the first emperor went, not only did he not follow, but hunted all over the place, from once every three years to once a year, whoever hunted more prey would be promoted to the rank of knight, and he was happy to do so! Xilou smiled bitterly, "This Emperor Rong, I really don't dare to think about others, I can't do it as an ordinary person, he robs other people's queens, kills loyal and righteous ministers, indulges in treachery, indulges in lust, wine and meat, regardless of the court and disputes, but it's really... How to say it, there is no one before and no one after you! ”

The kingdom is dying!

Zuo Qing sighed, Rong Guo has been like this for a long time, but who can stop it, which loyal minister who admonishes is not in a different place in the end, but a flattering minister like Mo Fei who collaborates with the enemy and betrays the country behind his back has been reused!

"Would you like to go along?"

Xilou turned around suddenly, word by word: "Naturally, I want to go!" ”

"That's the best. But you still have to hold your breath, we have more important things to do. At present, we have not shaken the foundation of the three provinces and six ministries, so we must calm down! He was worried, and since the first time he saw Xilou, he knew that one day, Xilou would pick up that sword and kill all his enemies.

Xilou laughed in a low voice: "If I am impulsive, I have been here five years ago, why should I ally with you again?" ”

He was a little reassured: "In this case, you must be careful not to show your feet." ”

Xilou waved his hand and staggered away.

Zuo Qing was about to leave, when his footsteps slammed and shouted, "Come out!" ”

In the distance, a thin figure came out from under the wall, stepping on the moonlight getting closer and closer, and her face loomed under the banyan trees.

"You?" Zuo Qing's expression slowed slightly, but he was still vigilant.

Su Yanzhu didn't dare to take a step closer in the same place: "The moon is dark and the wind is high, why are you looking at the lake here alone and sighing?" ”

"I'm not alone."

Su Yan scratched his shiny head: "It's really not a person now, that ...... Listening to your exclamation, do you want to go hunting? She clenched her fists and hated that iron could not become steel: "As the deputy in charge, you can't be lazy!" ”

Zuo Qing was surprisingly calm, and only a pair of eyes kept observing her: "I didn't say I wouldn't go, on the contrary, I was going to kill someone." ”

"Murder?!" Su Yan was so frightened that he trembled: "You have no power to restrain the chicken, who are you going to kill?" You're kidding! Sky... It's getting late, I'm going back to sleep! ”

Zuo Qing rushed up and pressed her into the corner almost with all his might: "You should have read the method of killing people with a knife." ”

Su Yan couldn't pretend anymore, grabbed his arm with both hands, and looked at him with an aggrieved expression: "You should dig a dark room or something to discuss secret matters, why bother to come to Nanhu, so don't blame me, you don't have brains yourself!" ”

"Did you hear it all?"

"That drunkard is making such a big noise, I've been drinking in the pavilion, it's hard for me to hear if I don't want to!"

"Are you going to pretend nothing happened today, or are you going to make it public?"

Su Yan suddenly became serious and looked at him: "Although you and I are not brothers, we have also been born and died, how can you look at me like this?" Even if I, Su Yan, are sometimes greedy for small gains, it won't hurt my friends in injustice! ”

Zuo Qing nodded with some emotion and let her go.

Su Yan rubbed his arm painfully and sneered: "You yourself live the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain, but not everyone is the same as you!" ”

Zuo Qing walked past her indifferently and didn't say a word to her.

Su Yan suddenly got angry, chased after him and asked, "What do you mean?" I'm curious, since I came to the academy, you've been ignoring you, how did I provoke you, or was it when I was in the tavern before, I fucking ran into a ghost? Let me tell you, I have more friends in Su Yan, and I don't miss you! As soon as the last sentence landed, the person in front of him had completely disappeared, and there was not even a room left.

Su Yan kicked on the moon gate and went back in a huff.

In three days, he was about to leave for the hunting grounds, Su Yan arranged his homework properly and explained a few words, but he was dizzy by everyone's complaints.

The students protested one after another, Your Majesty was not kind! Our students are the flowers of the future, the seedlings that need to be cultivated and trained, and we have to exercise and exercise! Su Yan also felt that His Majesty was a little unkind this time, and he was embarrassed for him! I thought about helping them bring some game back, which made everyone shut up.

The next day, Su Yancai got up from the bed rubbing his confused eyes, and he heard a shouting outside, and went out to take a look, good guy, I saw people in and out of Wan Chaofang, a sandalwood case for a while, a broken corner of the case for a while, a lantern for a while, a beauty for a while to repair a floor tile...

Su Yan closed the door, took a deep breath and opened it again, only then did he dare to believe what was in front of him.

It turns out that this west building still remembers the Buddha, and this secretly offers hospitality. But last night his demeanor was a little ...... Su Yan hurriedly dispelled this idea, and after thinking about it, maybe people just don't see the outside, it must be!

If she went to tell the Buddha at this time, she would definitely be overwhelmed, not to mention that this is a matter for their little couple, what are they mixed with? But if Buddha still blames him, if he doesn't add love to the West Building in time, wouldn't the West Building be busy in vain? Isn't their marriage ruined? Isn't he indirectly the culprit of beating mandarin ducks!

Su Yan stomped his feet, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind that he had to fan the wind and fan the fire of love!

Just as he was about to fan the wind, a huge body suddenly blocked the door, Su Yan's front feet did not land, and he was suddenly hit, his feet slipped and slipped, his body was crooked, and he fell into the arms of that body impartially.

Those warm hands slid her shoulders and landed on her waist, holding her steady.

A nice voice came from overhead: "I can't afford to give such a big gift early in the morning." ”

Su Yan hurriedly pushed him away, and retreated a few steps away by himself, raised a face that had not yet been groomed, and smiled awkwardly, "You didn't go to the wrong door, but it's right, you have been in the Yanshan Courtyard for a long time, and the former Guluan Pavilion has now been inhabited by me, and Chaoyun Pavilion is the new residence of the Buddha." She glanced at the busy subordinates, and said, "It is said that lovers will eventually become married, you childhood sweethearts, a match made in heaven, how can you have no fate." I've always said to Ah Xuan, you and the Buddha are separated from no one who is not worthy, only you are the most worthy, before it was just a misunderstanding, once the misunderstanding is removed, you still have to rebuild the old good, you see, I am right! ”

Xilou waited patiently for him to finish crackling before explaining: "You misunderstood again, today I sent these people to renovate the Yanshan Courtyard just to follow the rules. The west building showed her the brochure, "The year is almost closed, and the academy will repair the major courtyards in advance, in addition to the Yanshan Courtyard and the hedge, after the completion is the Zen Meditation Courtyard and the Yewu Garden, and finally the four halls." However, I also have some selfish intentions, and the utensils I changed for the Yan Shan Yuan are the best, and I have added a few other playthings, which is also rare. ”

Su Yan sighed twice, "You still say no, I think you're a big man embarrassed to say it, right?" It's a special case and I came to stare at it in person, and I said that it wasn't for the Buddha, it seems that I have to call her over to confront you and see if you let go. ”

said that he was about to go to the other side in a hurry, but was pulled back by the person behind him, and closed the door by the way.

His breath was on her forehead, tickling, and it smelled very good.

"Don't you understand?"

"Understood... Understand what? Su Yan looked at him nervously.

"Are you jealous of me? Or do you really not understand? ”

Su Yan couldn't speak anymore, and only tried to push him away.

"I've made it clear what I should have said, and I think you should understand what I said to you."

Su Yan's immature heart trembled violently, and this old face suddenly turned red.

"You, you're trying to talk to me... Are you crazy?! Su Yan almost tried his best to let go of his hand, fled to the corner and picked up the door bolt, "Anyway, I'm a friend of the Buddha, and we are also colleagues, you really hurt my feelings by trapping me in injustice like this, there is no grass at the end of the world, why don't you change a tree and hang yourself." ”

Xilou hugged his arms and grinned cheekily: "But I just fell in love with your tree." ”

"You're not afraid of falling to your death! Buddha is very affectionate to you, can you bear to make her sad? ”

"Rumors stop at the wise, I don't think you're like those who listen to the wind and the rain."

"Then don't look for me! I understand your feelings, but I can't accept it. ”

His face darkened little by little, but he still smiled like a sunny smile, as if this smile was his trademark.

"One day you'll understand. Okay, it's time for me to go, there's a lot of stuff waiting for me! Also, it's a hunt in a few days, so you're so prepared, don't panic. He was light and even laughing, patted her face, and strode away against the cold wind.

Su Yan slapped his face... I didn't have a spring dream!

It is said that blessings and disasters are not one-way trips. Su Yan took a rare shortcut and walked from the woods to Shuyoutang, and before he could go out, he heard the conversation between the two people coming from the lake outside the woods. Su Yan immediately squatted down, peeked through the trees, and found that it was Changsun Xi and Ran Ying.

These two girls, in caluation, will definitely not have a good thing to discuss... Su Yan suddenly had an idea, the eldest grandson Xi didn't succeed in the assassination last time, wouldn't he have to do anything again?

The eldest grandson Xi paced by the lake, while the infant beside him cowered, looking very scared.

"Do you know how much I use you?"

"Yes."

"Do you know who I hate the most?"

"Su ...... Su Yan. ”

"Then why did you betray me so many times? Don't think I don't know, you and she were very close to her when you were collecting medicine in the back mountain, talking and laughing along the way, and they were very intimate. ”

Ran Ying suddenly raised her head, her face panicked, "It must be someone else chewing the root of the tongue, I have never had two hearts for you, I didn't help you in the gambling house a few days ago!" ”

The eldest grandson Xi tore off the branches, gritted his teeth and said: "I don't remember the past, but from now on you must remember it for me, the growth of your family now is just dependent on my eldest grandson family, although your aunt is now the queen, but the old and the new in the palace are replaced, your aunt will fall out of favor sooner or later, and your father is old-fashioned, will not maneuver, and has made countless enemies in the court, and the glory of the past may be destroyed in an instant!" I can let my eldest grandson's business completely infiltrate your Ran family, and from then on, the two families have formed an alliance, one official and one businessman, dominating the six countries! Since then, no one in the court of Zhao has dared to oppose your father, and even King Zhao will always pamper your aunt because of my eldest grandson's family. The advantage of all this is just that you want you to help me deal with a Su Yan, and this transaction is not a loss. ”

Su Yan, who was hiding in the shadows, was already stunned, and his opinion of Changsun Xi opened a new page. As for Ran Ying, she suddenly remembered the Zhao Guofeng that Master talked about when she chatted with her a few years ago.

Thinking about it before, he was just a naughty boy who didn't know the height of the sky, and he didn't know the shocking case that happened in Zhao State, not to mention judging right and wrong cause and effect with those ordinary people in the market, only knowing that the winter solstice that year was very cold, and it snowed heavily in Rongguo for a few days, and the housekeeper in the house also said: "This snow came in time, even God felt that the Xuan family was pitiful, the Ran family was innocent, and King Zhao was cold-blooded." At that time, Su Yan always complained to Yanzhen that the housekeeper was sad all day long, and even the finches in the yard were affected. Later, the master talked about this matter again, and Su Yancai spent the whole afternoon collecting all the wild history books sold on the market, some true and some false, and reorganized the big case against the master's version.

It was in the fifteenth year of Weisheng, at the end of the spring of that year, Xuan Yuansheng was ordered to take command and led the Praetorian Guard to a total of 100,000 to attack Linguo, but more than half of the weapons were destroyed halfway, and the Linjun took this opportunity to counterattack, and in just a few days, there were countless casualties. However, in the letter sent back to Zhao Guo, Xuan Yuansheng said that he had won a great victory.

In the end, the Lin army attacked the border city, and if it wasn't for the help of Rong Guo, I am afraid that the city would have to be destroyed.

Falsely reporting military information, embezzlement and bribery.

Xuan Yuansheng was imprisoned for this, and his wife's sword village was sealed, and a large number of inferior weapons were investigated and punished, and more than 100 people from the Xuan family were all implicated.

According to the law of Zhao State, it is not possible to kill without conclusive evidence, and if it is convicted, it must also be beheaded in the autumn, and the situation like the Xuan family must be treated more carefully, and it will take more than half a year to deal with it before and after. However, when Mo Fei and his subordinates arrived, the case was hastily decided in just half a month, and the entire clan was sentenced to death, and the Ran family, who had close contacts with the Xuan family, was also implicated.

The Ran family has been an official for generations, both literary and martial, and when it comes to Ran Songshan, this generation focuses on martial arts, which is very close to Xuanyuansheng. After that chaos, although he relied on the family's power in the court to protect himself, but since then, Ran Songshan has lost the opportunity to climb up, even if he sent his sister to the harem, even if this sister became the queen, but still can't change King Zhao's distrust of him. For the next five years, Ran Songshan remained in the official rank of General Youcheng, and although he was in charge of the city's security, he never touched the center of power. In a short period of promotion, he was also taken advantage of by the traitor because of his eldest son's crime, which indirectly caused him to lose his official position, and the queen was also snubbed for a long time because she begged for mercy for her nephew. Today, the Ran family has less and less say in the imperial court, relying on the queen's sister and the dyeing business, which accounts for half of Kyoto, to barely gain a little respect from their colleagues.

Thinking about it at this time, it is understandable that Ran Songshan sent the pearl in his palm to Rongguo Qishan Academy. One is to stay away from right and wrong, and the other is to let Ranying get to know more powerful people and protect herself.

After that big case, the Xuan family completely disappeared from the Six Kingdoms, and the weapon spectrum that collected the world's weapons in one volume also disappeared without a trace.

Thinking of those pasts, which are inextricably linked, I suddenly found that if I changed to be a baby, I would indeed be shaken in the face of the temptation thrown by Changsun Xi. After all, the strength of the Ran family is getting worse and worse, and one day King Zhao drank and fainted, and was instigated by the concubine to abolish the queen.

It was indeed excusable what she had done before, and now she hesitated, not only hateful but pitiful. It's just that no matter what the reason is, once someone else is involved, she can't let her go wrong step by step because of some pitiful points.

Su Yan brushed aside the branches and stepped on the gap between the trees towards the lake. The flowers and leaves squeaked along the way. The two people on the other end turned their faces together, and when they found out that it was Su Yan, they were so frightened that their faces turned white into wall ash, and they were about to flee by taking the road, but Su Yan raised his voice to stop them.

"Coincidentally, I passed by and heard someone talking, so I came over to see who was so bored basking in the sun by the lake, yo, it turned out to be the two of you, why can't you think about jumping into the river or do you feel that you are too white to get a tan?"

Ran Ying panicked and almost fell into the lake with one foot in the air. She looked at the lake behind her, not daring to move again.

"Mr. Su, I..."

"What are you afraid of? I didn't do anything to you. Su Yan put on a compassionate smile.

Eldest Sun Xi snorted coldly and stared at her, "You heard me." ”

Su Yan picked up a multi-faceted and angular stone on the ground and threw it towards the lake, with three water sounds in a row, and a lake of green water ripples.

Su Yan clapped his hands and said, "Look at this lake, just one stone can cause such a big movement, just like this academy." ”

Ran Ying glanced at Changsun Xi and asked for advice. Eldest Sun Xi gave her a look, and then looked at Su Yan's back. Ran Ying understood, stretched out his hand and tried Su Yan's back, but he didn't dare to start. Changsun Xi was impatient, nodded Ranying's neck and made a fist gesture.

Su Yan retracted his gaze from the scene on the lake and sneered, "I was born ordinary, I thought about an ordinary life, but I unexpectedly stepped into the academy and got acquainted with Buddha Zhan, Zuo Qing, Xilou and powerful people like you." I thought that if people don't offend me, I won't offend others, and live a low-key life, and I did it. It's just that I'm too naïve, and when I step into this place as deep as the sea, I can't be alone. In fact, people live in this life only to learn one truth, learn to be calm in the floating world, and learn to introspect in the troubled times. ”

"Su Yan, don't forget your identity, dare to talk to us in such a tone, it's really impatient!" The baby finally broke out.

Changsun Xi secretly laughed.

The last thing Su Yan saw was a face full of pain, she knew that Ran Ying was not bad, at least she wouldn't know right from wrong, but she was restrained by Changsun Xi and had to be bad.

Changsun Xi patted Su Yan's shoulder, shook his head and sighed: "Mr. Su overestimates himself too much, who do you think you are?" Imperial nobles or powerful families? In Ruoshui, you are just a powerless person, do you think I can't do anything about you with my cousin's support? Hmph, whimsical! I advise you to leave as soon as possible, my cousin is not something that someone like you can climb, don't dream! ”

Su Yan really admired her for being so confident, "What the eldest grandson girl said is that General Yan is high, how can he climb high!" Changsun Xi was a little surprised by her attitude, but she didn't expect Su Yan to change her words and say: "However, even if General Yan is high, he doesn't look down on us ordinary people by an inch, but sneers at those who cheat and intrigue, so ah, the eldest grandson girl misunderstood, if you don't believe it, go ask your cousin, and ask him if he is the one I stammered with him, or the one he stammered with me." ”

"Cousin stammered you?!" Changsun Xi was shocked, but he didn't believe it, "Su Yan, you are crazy, how can my cousin slap you, I think you are a phoenix for the sake of the sparrow, so you will be shameless and stick it up!" ”

Su Yan shook her head, really sympathetic to her assumptions.

In the alleys of Ruoshui Street, there is a gentle chanting, if there is nothing, echoing in the cold wind after nightfall.

The eldest grandson Xi wore a cloak and waited with the maid at the entrance of the alley. There were more than a dozen guards hidden in the nearby hidden places, which seemed to be normal as pedestrians, but if you looked closely, they showed official boots under the corners of their robes, blades hanging from their belts, and a pair of sharp eyes patrolling around Changsun Xi.

As the night progresses, there are fewer pedestrians.

Changsun Xi impatiently pushed away the water bladder handed by the maid, turned around and walked into the tavern.

There were few guests on the second floor, and a few drunks were crying and laughing against the window. The candlelight lit the night, a little drowsy.

The little servant greeted him and asked very attentively: "Miss Eldest Sun, please sit in the private room!" ”

The eldest grandson Xi followed the little servant into an elegant room facing east. A private room was divided into two rooms by a screen, and a lacquer case was placed inside and outside, incense was placed, and the little maid closed the door lightly, and the room suddenly darkened a lot.

Changsun Xi picked up the candlestick on the desk and leaned on the screen, and vaguely saw a tiny shadow, and a low voice suddenly came from inside: "Miss Changsun hasn't seen her for a long time, why is she suddenly in the mood to come to me for a drink?" ”

Changsun Xi hurriedly stabilized the hand holding the candlestick, but the back of his hand was still burned by the wax oil that was shaken off.

"Why don't you follow my instructions and wait in the back alley, so blatantly going to the tavern, you are not afraid of attracting attention?"

The voice let out a contemptuous laugh, "The eldest lady is so forgetful, this tavern is in my uncle's name, and the shopkeeper used to be my subordinate. You can eat and drink without making you uncomfortable. As soon as he finished speaking, the figure grew larger and larger, pushing open the screen, revealing a face, extremely strange in the candlelight.

Changsun Xi put down the candlestick and entered the table, still dissatisfied with his words, "Second son of Song, I still need to remind you, how to say that I am also the future head of the Changsun family, the future daughter-in-law of Lord Mo, there are still many places where Lord Mo needs my eldest grandson family in the future, you should discuss everything with me." As he spoke, he glanced at the gloomy face on the other side of the candlestick, and turned into a smile, "But when I see it today, it's for you and my common enemy, Su Yan." ”

Ge Yiyan couldn't help twitching the corners of his mouth, and his tone was full of disgust, "Su Yan, is she Zuo Qing's person?" ”

"But isn't it, she relied on Zuo Qing's support to be unscrupulous in the academy, and she didn't even pay attention to me, I think it's time to give her some color."

"It's you who hate her, I'm just because of Zuo Qing, I have thousands of ways to make Zuo Qing uncomfortable, why provoke a woman."

"Don't forget, when Zuo Qing took Su Yan out of Chu State, and personally took her into the academy, it shows that Su Yan is very important to him, maybe the two have already secretly fallen in love, this is the best time for you to hit him, and the pain he brought him must be very fresh in his memory. I have helped you plan, you have served as General Zuo for many years, but your appeal in the army is not even comparable to Yan Zhen, who has already stepped down, and is even less than Zuo Qing who is reused by Lord Mo in terms of power and deception. Think about it, how many grievances you have suffered from Master Mo, and who is it all because of? Now you're going to wait and see what happens? But I don't know when he Zuo Qing will attack you. ”

The teacup on the lacquer case was dusted off, the water splashed everywhere, and an iron fist smashed on the case, "What kind of thing is he Zuoqing?" It's just a dog that my uncle picked up! It's just that it can scream, and it sounds good. In terms of loyalty and strength, where is he like me? But his uncle trusted him! You said it lightly, just one Su Yan can bring down Zuo Qing? Do you think I've been messing around all the years? That's because Zuo Qing's vigilance is too high, and I don't know where to start! ”

"So, now there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as long as you control Su Yan, you can influence Zuo Qing."

He calmed down, and after hearing this, his eyes were full of hope, "Do you have a plan?" ”

"The royal hunt, all the gentlemen of the academy will go, but I can't participate as a student, but you can."

He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "How?" ”

"At that time, there were a lot of mixed people, even if Zuo Qing was powerful, it was difficult to beware of the net you secretly laid out, after catching Su Yan, lead him to the bottom of the back mountain, and at the same time ask Lord Mo to wait, I think I can force his fox tail to appear in a few words."

He hesitated, "Why do you have to hold Su Yan hostage?" ”

"Can you please touch him?"

"Then why did you go to the back mountain?"

"This is also just in case, if the matter fails and it is not spread so that outsiders can find out about the conflict between you, it will not affect Lord Mo and your identity. Two... It's a good place to kill. ”

Ge Yiyan's face instantly turned ugly, and he felt faintly uneasy in his heart, "What do you want to do?" ”

Changsun Xi didn't think so, as if he was just doing something very ordinary.

"Why don't we help each other, each takes what he needs, you expose Zuo Qing and regain the trust of Lord Mo, I take Su Yan's life and remove the obstacles in front of me, how about it?"

Ge Yi pondered for a moment, and said in disbelief: "The plan is feasible, but after killing Su Yan, how do you deal with the aftermath?" ”

Changsun Xi got up, paced to the window, stretched out his hand to catch the fallen leaves floating outside the window, and raised a sneer, "Since it is a good place to kill people, it is naturally the best place to bury corpses!" ”

The night was deep, and a touch of blood red on the horizon was gradually fading, even if it was obscured by the clouds, it was still bright red.