Xu Zhi and Huifeng followed Qiuyue into the embroidery room full of pearl and jade curtains in the Zhaoxian Hall, the room was not big, but it was full of calligraphy and paintings of the literati of the past dynasties, and a clear and jade orchid was placed at the east window, which was swaying with the wind and budding to be released. A fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl wearing beaded flowers on her head and a phoenix hairpin on her sideburns sat sideways in front of the dresser, carefully touching up her light makeup, and bursts of fragrance like orchid and musk came to her nose.

Qiu Yue stopped not far from the girl and replied cautiously, "Miss, the two sons have arrived." ”

The young lady quickly turned around and shouted, "Master Xu, Master Hui, you are here!", and hurriedly waved her hand to let the maid retreat.

Hui Feng couldn't believe his eyes, and said in surprise: "Yuan Zhi, why are you?"

Zhou Yuanzhi said: "Master Hui, why can't it be me? I am the righteous daughter of the Yellow King." ”

"Yuan Zhi, your status is so noble, you shouldn't deceive Master! How did this matter end?" Xu Zhi asked in a low voice with a shy face.

"Two masters, Yuan Zhi didn't mean to deceive you. In fact, on that day, Yuan Zhi was lost in the north of Connecticut and was penniless, but fortunately I met two masters, and it was the masters who saved me. I was afraid that the two masters would dislike me, so I had to hide my life experience, and the time I spent with the two masters along the way was the happiest time Yuan Zhi ever spended. Zhou Yuanzhi said, her eyes moistened.

It turned out that Zhou Yuanzhi was the righteous daughter of Huang Chao when he attacked Luoyang, and Zhou Yuanzhi was only a seven or eight-year-old child at that time, but she was exceptionally delicate and beautiful, smart and cute. Huang Chao has no children and no daughters, so he loves Zhou Yuanzhi very much, and invited martial arts celebrities for Zhou Yuanzhi since she was a child to teach her to read and practice martial arts. Zhou Yuanzhi is very smart in reading, very hard in martial arts, and very understanding, often talking and doing things coincide with Huang Chao, won the favor of Huang Chao, cardamom is already both civil and military, and has become a powerful helper in Huang Chao's career.

Seeing that Zhou Yuanzhi was at a good age to get married, there were few people in Huang Chao's army to match her, and Huang Chao didn't want her righteous daughter to marry hastily, she missed her life, and there was no one to follow up on her foundation, so she came up with a way to convene a gathering of heroes in the world and recruit relatives in martial arts. But on the matter of marriage, Zhou Yuanzhi strongly objected, she felt that she was still young and did not want to start a family as soon as possible, so Huang Chao's idea of recruiting relatives in martial arts had been decided, and her daughter was not allowed to refuse.

In order to escape the persecution of her parents, Zhou Yuanzhi had to disguise herself and go all the way south to escape from Caizhou City. Zhou Yuanzhi saw that Xu and Hui were not like bad people, so in the name of joining relatives, followed the two back to Caizhou, and when they arrived at the outskirts of Caizhou, they learned that their father-in-law had summoned the world's heroes for themselves to compete and recruit relatives, so he was very troubled and very embarrassed to face Xu and Hui.

Zhou Yuanzhi explained the ins and outs of the matter to Xu and Hui, and finally said to Xu Zhi with a red face: "Master Xu, no, Brother Xu, the matter has come to this, please forgive the little sister for concealing it." This competition to recruit relatives, the world knows, you are already my husband, my little sister is willing to follow the eldest brother in this life and this life, and she will not be separated for the rest of her life. After speaking, he lowered his head and shyly fiddled with his clothes.

Xu Zhi listened to Zhou Yuanzhi's straightforwardness, and didn't know whether to nod in agreement or politely refuse.

Hui Feng's face was pale, his heart was extremely unhappy, and the corners of his mouth kept trembling and said: "It turns out that this is the case! Then I want to congratulate Brother Xu and Miss Zhou, I wish the two of them a full moon and a long old age." ”

Xu Zhi saw that Hui Feng's expression was extremely painful, and hurriedly excused himself: "Miss Zhou is young, she is at a good age, and she is afraid that she will not have a good wife?"

Zhou Yuanzhi saw that Xu Zhi had a difficult look on his face, and said with a wry smile: "Brother Xu! As the so-called marrying a chicken with a chicken, marrying a dog with a dog, the little sister has long belonged to the eldest brother, even if the eldest brother does not agree to this family business, the little sister will always guard the eldest brother without regrets." ”

Seeing Zhou Yuanzhi's true feelings, Huifeng felt extremely painful in his heart, and then turned to extreme love and pity for Zhou Yuanzhi, seeing that Xu Zhi was still hesitating, he shouted at him: "Xu Zhi, if you can't find Luo Suying in your life, won't you never marry for life? You can live up to the world, but you must not let Yuan Zhi down, otherwise I won't let you go first, what are you still hesitating about? Can't you still see that Yuan Zhi is sincere to you?" As he spoke, two lines of turbid tears gushed out of his eyes.

Xu Zhi was speechless by Hui Feng's refutation, so he had to look at Zhou Yuanzhi guiltily, and saw that she was also secretly looking at herself at this time, silent.

Hui Feng wiped away his tears and asked, "Yuan Zhi, today is a good day, do you have any wine here?" The three of us have a good drink, and we haven't been drunk for a long time. ”

Xu Zhi saw that Huifeng was abnormal, and he was afraid that he would borrow wine to drown his sorrows, so he hurriedly stopped it with his hand. Zhou Yuanzhi ignored it, took out her daughter Hong, who had been buried underground for many years, from the room, and said with a smile: "Okay, Brother Hui, the three of us are not drunk today." ”

Before Zhou Yuanzhi's words were finished, Hui Feng snatched the wine jar in Zhou Yuanzhi's hand, raised his head and drank alone, while drinking, he shouted "Good wine, happy!", and then cried bitterly and said: "Yuan Zhi, what do you think Brother Hui is not as good as Brother Xu?", he saw Zhou Yuanzhi's face full of guilt, shook his head again and again, and said to himself: "Needless to say, in terms of character and appearance, that is, in terms of martial arts and diligence, I am also much inferior to Brother Xu!"

Xu Zhi saw that he had drunk too much, and hurriedly snatched the wine bottle from his hand, but Zhou Yuanzhi said to him: "Let Brother Hui drink it, if he drinks too much, he may be happier in his heart." ”

I saw that Hui Feng drank a few big sips in a row, and continued: "Yuan Zhi, you have to follow Brother Xu well, and Brother Xu must also treat Miss Zhou well. ......" As he spoke, he threw down the wine jar in his hand and fell asleep, snoring after a while.

Xu Zhi and Zhou Yuanzhi glanced at the sleeping Huifeng, and then looked at each other, silent.

Besides, Huang Chao and the heroes in the recruitment hall were still talking about the situation in the world, and Ye Luchun suggested again: "Since the Yellow King has decided to go south to the south of the Yangtze River, why not tell the world so that the heroes of the world can understand the hard work of the Yellow King to save the people in the south of the Yangtze River?"

Pang Xun also tried his best to encourage Huang Chao on the side and said: "King Huang, Brother Yelu is right, it should be like this, our righteous army has always done things above board, and only by announcing the world can we win the hearts of the people; ”

Yang Yue of Jinzhou Shenque Gate has always been cautious and does not say much, he also suggested to Huang Chao: "What Brother Yelu and Brother Pang said makes sense, since we are determined to go south, we should give the order to go first and take the lead in the first place. However, what Xu Zhi said just now is also very far-sighted, and I hope that Huang Wang will also think about it more!"

Ye Luchun listened to Yang Yue's words, snorted in his nose, and retorted: "Brother Yang, you think too highly of Xu Zhi, he is just a fledgling yellow-haired boy, who has read a few miscellaneous books, what major events in the world can he know? Could it be that Brother Yang also hopes that Huang Wang will listen to that kid and be willing to be a grass king for the rest of his life?"

Yang Yue saw that Yeluchun was very strong, so he had to say: "Brother Yelu misunderstood, he didn't oppose Huang Wang going south, he just hoped that Huang Wang would be more careful in everything!"

Huang Chao smiled at Yang Yue and nodded, his eyes were full of understanding, and Yang Yue stopped talking.

At this time, Shang Rang also persuaded: "Huang Wang, what Gang Leader Yang said is reasonable, now that our army has heavy grain and grass in the Central Plains, if we abandon the rear and rush into the south of the Yangtze River, it is very likely that we will fall into the heavy encirclement of the Jiangnan officials and troops as Xu Zhi said!

When Huang Chao heard this, he didn't say anything, but turned his gaze to Zhu Wen beside him and said, "General Zhu, what is your opinion?"

Zhu Wen had already seen Huang Chao's determination and will to advance into Jiangnan, and analyzed: "Huang Wang, General Shang, Yelu Shaoxia, and Yang Gang Leader all make sense. In the humble opinion of his subordinates, our righteous army marched into the south of the Yangtze River, and there was a shortage of food and grass, and it was indeed a bit rash, but now that the officers and soldiers of all walks of life have heard of the prestige of the Yellow King, they have all been frightened and fled in all directions, and the south of the Yangtze River is splendid and rich, and if our army does not take it, it will inevitably be ceded to others, so is it not a delay in the warplane? Besides, how can our army be in the corner of the Central Plains in order to preserve its strength, and this will not disappoint the people of Jiangnan and lose the hearts of the people in the world?

Seeing that Huang Chao heard this, Zhu Wen shouted "yes", and further persuaded: "As for whether our army is sticking to the foundation of the Central Plains and being attacked on all sides, or whether it will turn passive into active, break the encirclement and suppression of the imperial court, and advance into the south of the Yangtze River." The subordinates and soldiers all hope that Huang Wang can make decisions and make up his mind as soon as possible!"

When Huang Chao heard this, he shouted: "General Zhu said well, Huang decided to follow Yelu Shaoxia's advice, instead of sticking to Caizhou, it is better to go south to the Central Plains and disrupt the encirclement and suppression deployment of the imperial court." The big husband becomes the prince and the loser, how can he be indecisive and delay his life. I have made up my mind to march to Jiangnan!"

Yelu Chun saw that Huang Chao listened to his opinion, and was secretly happy in his heart, he didn't expect the man in black to know Huang Chao so well, and things went so smoothly, but he was unwilling to recruit relatives, he deliberately changed the topic and said: "Huang Wang recruited a son-in-law for the righteous daughter this time, the world knows it, and the world's heroes gather in Caizhou, but Huang Wang chose Xu Zhi, who is not outstanding in talent and appearance, which is really incomprehensible?"

Huang Chao smiled: "Actually, I'm not optimistic about that Xu Zhi, he has no door and no faction, even if he is my son-in-law, it won't help much for the cause of the righteous army, but the emotional matter is still handled by the young man himself, and the old man is inconvenient to interfere in the little girl's decision!"

Ye Luchun deliberately asked in surprise: "What does King Huang mean is that the princess knew Xu Zhi in advance?" But marriage has been the order of her parents since ancient times, and the words of the matchmaker are how there is a reason for a girl to choose her own marriage, and Xu Zhi assassinated He Deputy Gang Leader in Juxian Building, and his methods are extremely despicable and obscene, how can he be worthy of being Huang Wang's beloved son-in-law?"

Huang Chao sighed and said: "This is the injustice, right! The little girl has always been in love with him since she came back from abroad, and our parents have persuaded her many times, but the little girl is stubborn, and the old man can't do anything?"

When all the guests knew what happened, they all sighed, although they were aggrieved, but they were helpless. Huang Chao saw that Yelu Chun of the Black Eagle Sect had been obsessed with recruiting relatives, and knew that he could be co-opted, so he said tentatively: "Yelu Shaoxia, the old man sees that you are young, and your martial arts and knowledge are extraordinary, if you are willing, how about following the old man to fight the country together?"

Ye Luchun was a man who saw the wind and steered, and hurriedly responded: "Huang Wang is too fond of the lower ones, and he is willing to become a pawn in front of the Yellow King's horse, leading the horse to fall for the Yellow King, and serving the work of dogs and horses!"

Huang Chao's heart was full of joy when he said this, and he laughed: "Yelu Shaoxia is too humble, if you don't dislike Huang, Huang is willing to give Your Excellency a position as a staff general, I don't know if Brother Yelu is willing to bow down?"

Ye Luchun saw that the purpose of this trip to Caizhou was basically achieved, and he did not violate the secret agreement of the man in black, but instead became a blessing in disguise and became a staff general in the Huangchao Army, which was really an unexpected surprise, so he quickly agreed.

The next day, Huang Chao announced two major events to the world: first, the successful conclusion of the contest and the selection of Xu Zhi as the son-in-law of Chenglong; second, the righteous army prepared to go south to the south of the Yangtze River, overthrow the Tang Dynasty, and save the people from fire and water. The children of the various gangs began to leave Caizhou one after another, and there were only a few gangs left in Juxian Mansion that were close to Huang Chao, and Xu Zhi, as Huang Chao's concubine, was also temporarily placed in Juxian Building, but Zhou Yuanzhi moved back to Huang Wangfu in order to avoid suspicion, and only Xu Zhi and Hui Feng lived in the guest room.

Although Xu Zhi often dreamed of Luo Suying these nights, he didn't want to live up to Zhou Yuanzhi's tenderness and sweetness towards him, and he was in a dilemma, so he simply didn't think about it, so he had to go with the flow and settle down with what happened. It's just that Hui Feng seems to have changed from then on, running to the city to drink in the smoke and rain building all day long, and when he comes back late at night, he is drunk and drunk. Xu Zhi persuaded him several times, but when he saw that he was dark and unconscious, he had no choice but to follow his temperament.

In the blink of an eye, the city of Caizhou is full of peach and willow green, the ribbons are fluttering, the outside of the city is also full of fireworks, the kite is flying, it is the benefit of the spring of the year, it is the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, the folk of Caizhou have the custom of sacrificing to the god of flowers. Early in the morning, Zhou Yuanzhi came to Juxian Building to find Xu Zhi and asked him to accompany him to worship the god of flowers and fly a kite, but Huifeng seemed unwilling to see Zhou Yuanzhi again, so he greeted Xu Zhi and went to the restaurant to mess around.

Xu Zhi saw that Zhou Yuanzhi was wearing a particularly beautiful dress today, with a pink tight-fitting shirt with shoulders on her upper body, a goose-yellow long skirt below, embroidered silk shoes on her feet, a golden hairpin with a golden step on her beautiful black bun, and a flower basket and a kite embroidered with mandarin ducks in her hand, she couldn't help but look stunned.

Zhou Yuanzhi was embarrassed by Xu Zhi, and laughed in a low voice: "Brother Xu, is my little sister beautiful today?"

Xu Zhi praised: "Yuan Zhi, you are so beautiful today!"

Zhou Yuanzhi blushed and said in a low voice: "Yes, Brother Xu, women are those who please themselves, I hope that Big Brother will always remember what Yuan Zhi looks like today!"

Xu Zhi didn't know how to answer, so he quickly took the flower basket and kite from Zhou Yuanzhi's hand, and said, "Yuanzhi, let's go to worship the god of flowers and fly a kite!"

Zhou Yuanzhi happily agreed, "Okay, Brother Xu, come with me, there is a large peach forest outside our Caizhou City, and now it is ten thousand trees blooming, which is spectacular." Let's go there and worship the god of flowers, and then go kite flying on the green fields!"

After Zhou Yuanzhi finished speaking, she trotted all the way and led Xu Zhi to the peach forest in the suburbs. The peach forest is endless, all over the mountains, the tender green peach leaves are full of pink peach blossoms, there are buds to be released, there are those with stamens and spit fragrance, there are flowers in full bloom, there are single petals, there are double petals, it is the style of all kinds, the posture is thousands. The woods are crowded with men and women who step on the spring, most of them are young men and girls who are in love at the beginning, it is really "peach and plum do not speak, the next is its own", people's pursuit of beautiful things is eternal, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Caizhou is located in the border of Cai, Zheng and Chu, the folk customs are simple, young boys and girls dare to pursue free love, and there are poems about the meeting of men and women in the peach forest in the Book of Songs.

Zhou Yuanzhi led Xu Zhi to the depths of the peach forest, took out paper runes and ribbons full of poems from the flower basket, hung them on the branches of the peach tree full of flowers, and then silently prayed for blessings. Xu Zhi saw that the peach forest was full of these blessing paper ribbon charms, and some branches were hung with some small ornaments in his daughter's boudoir, which was really dazzling and overwhelming. Xu Zhizheng was stunned, only to hear Zhou Yuanzhi under a big peach tree, whispering: "May the god of flowers bless the little girl Yuanzhi with eternal youth, always beautiful, and always happy!"

Xu Zhi waited for Zhou Yuanzhi to finish sacrificing to the god of flowers, the two crossed the hill and came to the endless fields in the suburbs, the green grass on the ridges was shining, the winter wheat had just been jointed, only the soles of the shoes were as deep as the shallows, and the breeze was warm at this time, blowing the fragrance of flowers and plants. Xu Zhi hugged the kite with the mandarin duck in his arms, Zhou Yuanzhi grabbed a handful of soil and tested the wind, Xu Zhi judged the direction of the wind, and then ran all the way against the wind, letting go of the long line, the kite flew higher and higher from the side of the two, Zhou Yuanzhi also trotted all the way behind, looking at the kite that went straight up to the sky, and let out an innocent laugh.

Xu Zhi and Zhou Yuanzhi were tired of running all the way, the two sat side by side on the ridge, looking at the blue sky and the kite painted with mandarin ducks, Zhou Yuanzhi suddenly closed her eyes, and said to Xu Zhi with infinite longing: "Brother Xu, how good it would be if I were a kite in the sky! The kite is free and free, and there are white clouds by your side, how happy!"

Zhou Yuanzhi snuggled up to Xu Zhi's side, handed him the long line of the kite, instructed him to hold it firmly, and wished to the sky: "Yuan Zhi is willing to be a kite in the sky, no matter in heaven or earth, she will care about Brother Xu!" May the sky be the proof, the kite is the evidence, Yuan Zhi and Brother Xu will never be separated in this life and this life!"

Xu Zhi glanced at the innocent girl who was snuggling beside him, exhaled like an orchid, and couldn't help but feel like an ape.