"The pony himself has to take care of his wounds. Princess...... I think it's tomorrow that the teacher ceremony is coming, she can't come out tonight, don't worry about it......"

King Ning said comforting words in his mouth.

"No, no. His Royal Highness misunderstood. She's hurt because of me, she's fine, thank you for letting me know. ”

Pei Xiaoyuan immediately closed his lips. However, he couldn't help but think of the night in Yuyun Tower, when she asked him in a sad voice if he didn't like her anymore. At this time, the place where he injured his hand suddenly throbbed violently again. Thinking about her once, it hurts once. Once it hurts, I think about her once.

He must have been completely disappointed in him, and even disgusted with him. I won't see him for the last time.

Holding the injured hand, when he stepped out of this cold prison where he had been sitting alone for many days, such a thought flashed vaguely in Pei Xiaoyuan's mind.

Chapter 135

It was an early morning in the depths of winter, and in the twilight of the year, another year was approaching between the sun and the moon, but Chang'an had no intention of welcoming the new year.

People from half of the city poured out of the main gate in the south of the imperial city to watch the imperial court's expedition ceremony for the army in the southern field.

The six armies were heavily armoured, and the flags covered the wilderness, and in a solemn array of swords, the forbidden army and guards with helmets and armor came with the dragon chariot, and the emperor who had not appeared for a long time was dressed in a crown, appearing before the hundred officials and the people. His face was hidden behind the twelve pearls, the dragon face under the jade algae was deep and majestic, and the body under the crown robe seemed so majestic and tall, after returning to the dynasty, he was deeply trusted, and almost every occasion was accompanied by Princess Shouchang, who accompanied him.

Under the watchful eyes of the emperor, he stepped onto the podium step by step and took his seat. Burning animals, sacrificing flags, and giving swords to generals. The ceremonial officer read aloud the emperor's proclamation. In the end, in the sonorous chorus of 10,000 people who "cut down the sin of Jiannan and galloped to the world", the army marched out. After leaving Gyeonggi, they will join up with the troops rushing from other places, and set foot on the rebel territory to put down the rebellion.

Just before today, not only in the court, but even in the streets, there were rumors that the emperor had lost two sons in a row, or that the dragon's body was incapacitated, and the oil ran out, and he would soon die.

Although the emperor has not been in the court in recent years, it is difficult for ordinary courtiers to see him, but this time the situation is really special, after the abolition of the prince and King Kang is gone, the emperor is hidden in the deep palace, the princess and the regent are no different, only one name is missing, and it is inevitable to lead to suspicion.

Out of fear and avoidance, although no one among the courtiers has dared to openly play and express their concerns about the state system behind the emperor, all kinds of speculations have long been spreading.

Today, the emperor made such a public appearance, for the army to be majestic, the rumors were self-defeating, and it was unknown what the courtiers would do, but for the common people, the king was in good health, and he saw the majesty of the officers and soldiers, like a dark cloud overhead, and all day, Chang'an City was not only overshadowed by this sudden war, but could be heard everywhere about the emperor and princess personally sending the army to open the voice.

In the evening, it snowed again.

Unlike the first wet rain and snow more than half a month ago, when the first night arrives and the morning comes, today it is full of snow, and there are many children chasing and playing in the snow in the streets and alleys, and some people even set off firecrackers prepared for the New Year's Eve in advance.

Pei Xiaoyuan walked in a camp outside the Kaiyuan Gate in the west of the city.

The snow fell heavily, and within a few moments, a layer of salty white snow had accumulated on the walls of the camps and the treetops around them.

A corner of this cantonment camp was temporarily set up as a garrison for other purposes.

He was accompanied by a group of young sons and daughters like Chen Shao, who were split up and scattered in various guard camps in Chang'an and Gyeonggi back then, as well as the young sons and daughters of their families who continued to serve in the army. These people are only a small part of the old Divine Tiger Army, and there are many others, who are now scattered elsewhere. Although they had low ranks, bows and crossbows, and different horses, all of them were professional soldiers. As soon as the news was sent, it was quickly answered from all sides.

The other group is led by Gu Twelve, who comes from the market, but after being assigned to Lu Wusi in the past, he often joins the training camp, and many of them are like Gu Twelve, who had various military experiences in his early years, and they are all suitable for going north. In addition, there were a few people who had Pei Xiaoyuan's permission to voluntarily follow from the various guards in Chang'an, such as Liu Bo, but not many. The three dials add up, a total of nearly 1,000 people.

Leave it overnight, wait for all the personnel to gather here, and when they are finished, they will all set off north with him early tomorrow morning.

The twilight was deep, and with the faint sound of twilight drums coming from the city, the snow outside the city was getting heavier and heavier.

The quilts, bows, knives and various personal supplies necessary for the cold winter journey have been delivered. He personally received it, made sure that everything, down to the fire bar, met the requirements, and ordered someone to distribute it.

After finishing his work at the moment, he came back, and as he was walking, Gu Twelve came to him, and after saluting him, his face was timid, as if he had something to say, so he asked him what was the matter.

Gu Twelve hesitated for a while before he said that a good woman was coming, so it was a camp, and women or outsiders were not allowed to enter at will, so they had to stand outside. He wanted to go out.

If you are officially in the army, you need to order a ban. For Gu Twelve, this point is especially emphasized, and it has been made clear at the first moment of arrival.

"I told her not to come early in the morning!" Gu Twelve hurriedly explained, "You don't have to wait for me in the future, you can find something else!" I went and didn't plan to go back! Who knew that the mother-in-law didn't listen, but she came again, and she just didn't leave. Just now he asked the guards to send me a message, saying something to send me winter clothes. I don't lack it! I just thought that the city gate was about to close on a snowy day, and she wouldn't be able to enter any later night, so I wanted to go out, so I drove her away quickly, and stopped pestering me......"

Pei Xiaoyuan turned his head and glanced in the direction of the camp gate in the distance, and sure enough, there was a figure of a woman wrapped in a purple headcarf standing outside, as if she was holding a burden in her arms, looking inside. Knowing this, he nodded: "Go, just come back before you leave tomorrow morning." ”

Gu Twelve was stunned for a moment, then showed gratitude, and after thanking him, he hurried to the camp gate, and before he could go out, he was pulled by the angry woman's ears and scolded him for making him wait for a long time.

“…… Are you here to be reincarnated? You can rest assured! I really want to receive the news that you are gone, my mother, I will change my appearance, not only to change, but also one a day, one by one, you will be handsome after the competition......"

The woman's voice was faintly heard in the snow. Gu Twelve should have been afraid of falling into the eyes of people and causing jokes, so he kept looking back and begged for mercy in a low voice, and the two pushed and shoved and walked out of the camp gate.

Pei Xiaoyuan retracted his gaze and turned back to the place where he lived.

Inside, he closed the door and took off his coat, shook off the snow that had fallen on it, and sat down in front of a nearby stove, drying some of his clothes stained with snow.

Entering the warm house from the cold outside, the wounded hand that had not yet healed slowly became painful again, sour and swollen, like being eaten by ten thousand ants, and the pain was endless.

Or really ten fingers to heart. He had been injured many times in various sizes, but never before, a small injury, was so difficult.

He took out the wound medicine, changed it, and then wrapped it with gauze by himself, only to wrap it around a few times, and suddenly felt an inexplicable feeling of disgust in his heart, dropped it, picked up a wine on the table, pulled it out, drank a few sips of liquor to relieve the pain, and then lay down in a kimono.

He closed his eyes and quickly adjusted his breathing.

He was a little tired, and he wanted to take advantage of nothing to do, get some sleep, wake up, and leave tomorrow. However, I couldn't sleep anyway. When tossing and turning on the couch, my waist was hit by a hard object and it hurt.

He felt for a leather bag tied to his belt. Through the bag, his finger rested on something.

It was this thing that got to him.

It is a horse fish charm that the royal family has not yet taken away.

He took out the fish talisman that was supplemented, held it in the palm of his hand, lowered his head, and watched, his mind gradually turned to the scene where he was watching the ceremony among the people of Chang'an this morning.

From the moment she appeared to the time she left, she always quietly hid behind the emperor, faithfully and perfectly fulfilling the duty of guidance. Under the sun-like light of the emperor, she looked nothing at all.

However, in his eyes, that figure was like a morning star, occupying all his sight.

His eyes couldn't help but show the scene before she left.

At the moment of boarding the jade chariot, she seemed to pause slightly, turned her face and looked around, her eyes were like bright moon beads in that moment, looking forward to the brilliance.

She...... seemed to be looking for someone, and then lowered his eyebrows and disappeared into the car.

He continued to sit still for a long time, and suddenly collected the fish charm, then went down to the ground, put it back on the big block, opened the door and walked out.

The sky was getting darker and the snow was getting heavier.

He rode out of the camp on horseback, and followed a deserted country path outside the camp that was quietly covered with heavy snow, and headed in the direction of the city.

Ahead, the rumbling sound of the twilight drum was the most urgent, and it faintly matched his heartbeat at the moment.

knows that her glance must not be looking for herself. However, it seems that out of thin air, I have gained great courage. He should have gone looking for her.

Naturally, he would not have the slightest thought of renewing his relationship with her. From the moment he decided to break into the palace to find out the truth, instead of continuing to hide and pretend to be ignorant, he gave up on her, and completely lost the qualification to love her or be loved by her.

It's just that she saved his life and blocked the emperor's sword for him. Before leaving, at the very least, you must say thank you in person.

This is the duty of man. Otherwise, how is it different from a beast?

The horse's hooves trampled wildly, and Qiongyu, who was crushed at the starting point, led him hurriedly across a field covered with vast snow, and the city gate was in sight.

At this time, the sound of the twilight drum near the end of the house urging people to close the house became more and more urgent, and the rumbling continued.

A group of merchants and travelers who had been running for profit all year round and were still in the road at the end of the year rushed desperately, gathered their convoys, camels, and horses, and crowded outside the city gates, waiting for inspection and release. The noise of chaos. The road was full of dirty mud trampled out. While they shrunk their necks to avoid the cold, they kept complaining about the sudden bad weather, and on the other hand, they were at the end of the long journey, and this evening, this great and prosperous city was finally at their feet, and everyone's faces were full of hope.

The horse's hooves went up the road, but they were stopped at the end of the line.

He loosened the reins of his horse, stopped beside the road, tilted his back slightly, and looked over the long, dimly lit doorway under the city gate.

Behind the doorway was the straight street leading to the palace, which was now empty, except for the snow.

While waiting, he suddenly felt confused and wavered.

After hesitating, a surprise voice came from behind him: "Master! ”

He turned his face and saw that it was Li Yu and Guo Guoer.

The two of them rode on horses, with a few attendants, as if they were out of the city, and hurried their horses towards him.

Pei Xiaoyuan smiled on his face, dismounted and stood on the side of the road. When the two approached, they each saluted him.

Pei Xiaoyuan nodded and asked why he was still here at this time.

"I'm just going to the camp to find your master! We have been here during the day, you are not here, I can't wait for you, so I have to make up for this hour, thinking that you must be there, master. I didn't expect to meet here! Master, where are you going? Guo Guoer and I want to see you off. Li Xu's expression was full of joy and regret, and he handed over a huge bulging leather bag, saying that it was full of all kinds of pills he had scavenged from the Tai Hospital, and there were all kinds of cures, in addition to all kinds of Jinchuang poisonous insect fire and burn medicine, as well as headache, brain fever, diarrhea and dysentery medicine.

"Sister saw it and said that I was stupid, how could anyone send this, it was unlucky. It's just that I'm thinking...... Although the military doctor also has it, but in case there is a headache, it is always convenient to have some medicine in that kind of place......"

was probably laughed at by Li Wanwan, and he seemed a little uneasy.

"What if...... What if it's not right...... Then I'll take it back ......."

Pei Xiaoyuan laughed, patted him on the shoulder, took it and hung it on the saddle, and then said, "You are very thoughtful." Thank you very much. ”

Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly said: "I saw that there was still a bottle of whale cream, so I brought it over, it is the best moisturizer." The imperial doctor is obviously about the same age as my grandfather, and his face is very smooth, which must be secretly used by himself. It's freezing there, and if the master's face and hands and feet are cracked, it's best to wipe it. ”

He didn't say that the whale paste was precious, and the doctor refused to let go at first, until he said that he would give it to the princess.

Naturally, he didn't dare to say a hidden worry in his heart, which was also a consensus after the sister and brother discussed it behind their backs: the master's hand was injured, and the position of the horse seemed to be in jeopardy, and even existed in name only. When I came back from a war this time, if the master's original proudest face was gone, I was afraid that my aunt would really not want him.

Pei Xiaoyuan was stunned for a moment, and then responded with a smile.

Li Yu repeatedly told him to use it. He sighed again: "The master is going to war, and I really want to follow him." But don't say Auntie, Grandpa doesn't agree, I can't do it. But Guo Guoer wanted to go, why didn't the master let him go? We have come here for this purpose, master, take him there! ”

Guo Guoer knelt down and made a request.

In fact, Guo Guo'er is not alone, in just one day today, countless other young people who are eager to go with him have also poured in from the guards, but they have all been rejected by him.

Going out of the customs to kill Hu and make meritorious contributions has always been the fantasy of countless young people who grew up in Chang'an, and even, compared to this, even going to the southwest to quell the rebellion seems to be overshadowed. Just like the ordinary people around him who were happily discussing when the official army could quell the rebellion and triumph during the day, in their imagination, the battlefield outside the gate was a thousand miles to go to the war, the cold light was ironclad, it was the glow-in-the-dark cup of grape wine, between the breath and drink, death and life were the same, it was the sweat and the horse to carry the sword, and take the prince.

The real battlefield is too far away from them. He had seen many young men who were strong and conceited, and even killed people before, and went to the real battlefield, but they were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground, and even turned around and fled. It would be a burden to take them with them.

As for the young man in front of him, even if he was different from others, Pei Xiaoyuan would not take him into danger. Say no.

He spoke firmly. The two on the other side were helpless, looked at each other, and gave up.

Pei Xiaoyuan glanced at the sky and urged the two to return. Li Zhi responded, reluctantly said goodbye, hoping that he would come back soon. Pei Xiaoyuan agreed one by one. Li Yu was going, and suddenly seemed to remember something, hesitated, and asked, "Master, where are you going?" ”

Pei Xiaoyuan said vaguely that he had made an appointment with someone and was waiting here.

"Master, you're leaving, aren't you going to see my aunt?" Li Xue swallowed, "She not only has a shoulder injury, but also a cut on her wrist, which must be very painful......

Pei Xiaoyuan's heart skipped a beat and asked what he meant. Li Zhi told her how she went to chase her before, but was stopped by Zhang Dunyi, and she was able to rush back overnight by slashing her wrist.

Pei Xiaoyuan was stunned for a long time, didn't answer for a long time, suddenly woke up, and only ordered the two to enter the city as soon as possible. Li Yu had no choice but to leave.

Seeing the two of them disappear, he stopped quietly in place for a while, and entered the city gate at the last moment when it was dark and the twilight drums stopped.

He went outside the palace alone, called out the palace eunuch Zhang Shun, and asked him to pass a message to the princess on his behalf, asking to see him.

He waited in the snow for a long time before he saw Zhang Shun come out in a hurry.

She is not in Ziyun Palace, she is not in the dormitory, even Yuyun Tower, Zhang Shun also went to look for it, and she also saw no one.

Dao is evening, it seems to have left the palace from Jiacheng, and I don't know where I went.

Or...... The colt returns first? Today, the army is on the march, and the princess should be busy...... The slave guarded the horse, and when he saw the princess returning, he immediately sent a message......"

Zhang Shun said cautiously.

The snow struck him like a clump of torn cotton wool.