For seven or eight years, he had the same dream almost every night:

The teenage self was lying on the ground, surrounded by a forest of flowers shrouded in darkness, and there stood a strange old man, both short and tall, with a wrinkled face that kept dripping blood, and the teeth in his mouth were like two rows of sharp knives, and the old man laughed, and was about to pounce and tear his flesh.

He was so frightened that he let out a sharp scream even in his dreams, and every then the Celestial Maiden would descend.

The Celestial Maiden exuded an indescribable light all over her body, and she didn't say anything, just a smile, and she dispelled the darkness in the flower forest, as well as the demonic old man.

After waking up, he often thought about this dream, always feeling nervous and scared for no reason, the slightest sound behind him could make him jump, and slowly he understood that he had to go to the heavenly girl, and only by staying by her side would he regain his sense of security.

An order came from a faraway land that the country of incense was to once again form an army of female soldiers and go to the Western Regions to fight the war.

He was fifteen years old at the time, not yet an adult, and he wanted to join the army, but he was refused, "No, you are too young, and you are a man, how can you mix in the army of women?"

He didn't give up, but went to lobby the teenagers of the same age in the capital, "We are no longer children, we can't let women protect the country of incense every time, we also have to do our duty to form an army of men." ”

He had great prestige among the boys, and his suggestion was approved, but his companions made only one request: there were too few boys in the city, and the total number of them was less than a thousand, and those who had moved in had to be included in it.

The young men went to all sides and said to the foreign farmers who were clearing the wasteland: "The Western Regions is your hometown, there is a war going on there, Shangguan Jiaotou is one of them, she inherited the army of the Dragon King, but she is currently in a weak position, if she is defeated, the country of Xiangji will belong to others, and the land that the Dragon King once promised you will also be taken away, choose, whether to wait for a miracle, or go to the Western Regions with us to participate in the war." ”

The size of the army of male soldiers in the country of incense eventually reached more than 5,000 people, and the few swordsmen of the Great Snow Mountain who remained in the country were invited to serve as officers, most of whom were either old or disabled, but had rich combat experience, and were able to train a group of teenagers and farmers to become warriors as soon as possible.

The female army, which numbered even more at 14,500, quickly turned from suspicion to excitement, accepting the men and acknowledging that they were the main force of the army.

Nearly 20,000 soldiers set off, not catching up with the most critical moment of Biyu City, but participated in the subsequent sweeping war, from Anguo across the Xiaoyao Sea, united with a small number of troops of Shiguo, and jointly attacked the three kingdoms of Kang, Sha and Hui in the west, Duguxian was able to avoid worries and concentrate on dealing with the eastern coalition army.

It was under the strong pressure of this army that King Kang Shangliao had to agree to negotiate, and he could not withstand the three-way attack of Biyucheng, Xiaoyaohai and Xiaowanguo.

After a year of fighting in the Loose Sea, he was finally allowed to go to Biyu City to meet the Celestial Maiden he had never forgotten.

"My name is Su Ai, the twelfth generation descendant of Xuandu Peak Death Castle and the sixth generation high priest of the Flower Soul Forest, I voluntarily give up these titles, I only hope to be able to serve as a pawn under the head of the Shangguan Sect. ”

Shangguan Ru still remembered Su Ai, he was kidnapped by Old Man Mu and rescued by her, but the child had grown into a strong teenager, although he was only sixteen years old, he had been tempered by the battlefield and had the perseverance of a veteran.

Su Ai got his wish and became the herald of Shangguan Ru, and two years later, as a member of the mission, he also came to the capital of the Central Plains.

It was he who knocked on the door outside and reported that someone had asked to see the dragon king.

Gu Shenwei had already forgotten the sacrificial boy of the country of incense, even if someone introduced it in detail, he couldn't think of it for a while, so after opening the door, he saw that it was just a tall young man, with a mixture of immature and calm two completely different temperaments on his face, and occasionally raised his eyes, flashing with enthusiasm for knowledge.

Su Ai's interest in the Dragon King was higher, even if he bowed down to speak, he could only stare at Gu Shenwei's toes, and he exuded excitement that could not be concealed—he admired the Dragon King more than the native swordsman of the Great Snow Mountain.

"The person who came claimed to be Pang Jing, how did the Dragon King want me to answer him?" Su Ai's demeanor and tone became more and more respectful.

Xu Yanwei, who was sitting in the room, pursed her mouth higher and higher, and said to her husband with a mouth shape: "Sycophant." ”

Fang Wen shook his head and smiled, although his wife's approach was a bit excessive, it was better than reassuring him happily, as far as he knew, Su Ai was very popular, especially for those male and female soldiers from the country of incense, this young man was a high priest of high status.

Gu Shenwei turned his head and asked Shangguan Ru, "Can I borrow a room to see Pang Jing alone?"

"Of course. Shangguan Ru smiled and said, "Let me think about ......."

"Just use me. Xu Yanwei hurriedly said that she had already put on a show and was willing to do something for Gu Shenwei, "I'll go to another room for a while." ”

This is the most convenient, Fang Wen personally supported his wife with wide clothes and big sleeves, and went out with Shangguan Ru.

Su Ai went to meet Pang Jing, Shangguan Ru pointed to his back and whispered: "This is my right-hand man, named Su Ai, who worships you so much, if you don't let us help, I won't force it, but take him and teach him." ”

"Teach him what?" Gu Shen was stunned, everything he knew didn't seem to be suitable for normal people.

The people outside were about to come in, Shangguan Ru smiled at him, did not answer, and chased after Fang Wen is with Xu Yanwei.

Gu Shenwei had already thought of a reason for refusal: Su Ai was also a member of the Biyu Kingdom Mission, and with him inconvenient, the Central Plains Imperial Court would not allow it easily.

Before Pang Jing arrived, Gu Shenwei sat down in the house and turned his thoughts to more important things.

Princess Huaping's concubine is far less heroic than six years ago, he disappeared in a hurry in the desert just for a bet, and now Pang Jing seems to be a handsome man who has never met a talent, and he is full of resentment, "Dragon King." He stood in the doorway, nodding his head lukewarmly.

Gu Shenwei didn't stand up, "The Dragon King is not in this room. ”

Pang Jing sneered with a stiff face, everything he was ruined in the hands of the person in front of him, it didn't matter what it was called.

"Pang Yuma, please stay here with Gu Gongzi for a while, and I will have someone bring tea immediately." Su Ai solved the problem of salutation, and after a while, he actually knew that the name of "Dragon King" was out of place, and Gu Shenwei couldn't help but be a little surprised.

"You're welcome. Pang Jing said without replying, "I only have a few words to 'Gu Gongzi', and I'll leave immediately." ”

"Yes. Su Ai gently closed the door from the outside.

Pang Jing took two steps forward and didn't sit down, "Gu Gongzi is still the same as before, he likes to talk straight?"

"Hmm. ”

"Very well, I am here by order of the Queen Mother. ”

The queen mother is Pang Jing's sister, the relationship between the two is not close, and they were still very tense at one time, but now it is not what it used to be, Pang Jing, who has no hope for his career and has lost the trust of the princess, has to find a backer for himself, and compatriots and relatives are always the best and easiest choice.

"I've been waiting for the Queen Mother's message. ”

Pang Jing walked back to the door, confirmed that there was no one outside, turned around and said: "I want to say a little bit about myself first, I regret what happened to Lin Xiaoshan, but it was not my idea to arrest him, and it has nothing to do with me to escort him to Luojiazhuang, I just ...... Acting on orders. ”

"Let Lin Xiaoshan think about these things for himself. ”

Pang Jing heard the threat in it, his heart couldn't help but sink, and then he despised his cowardice, this is the capital of the Central Plains, no matter how great the Dragon King's ability is, it is impossible to do whatever he wants like in the Western Regions, so his voice became cold and hard again, "The Queen Mother gives you ten days." ”

"Ten days? That's not enough. ”

"It's not enough, it's ten days, no one can help you, this is the queen mother's message, I'm just right. ”

"Well, and then what?"

"From today onwards, before the tenth day, you have to find out the group of killers, as well as the main messenger behind the scenes, if you can't hand over anyone when it is due-you are the murderer, and you will be accompanied by the Kongtong faction, because it is the guarantee provided by Zihe Zhenren for you, and there is the Kongtong faction** involved in the assassination. ”

It's less like a negotiation than an ultimatum.

"The Queen Mother threw me into the tiger's den, hoping that she could at least give me a stick to beat the tiger. ”

Pang Jing was silent for a moment, and then said with difficulty, "I am your tiger stick, the Empress Dowager has just appointed me as Zong Zhengqing, whoever you want to see and investigate, you have to be accompanied by me." ”

Zongzheng Mansion is in charge of the emperor's relatives and relatives, and the position of Zongzheng is usually held by the imperial family, and Zong Zhengqing is his deputy, and his grade is not low, but Pang Jing is still deeply ashamed, he would rather take an idle position or an official position with a slightly lower status but be in charge of a certain ministry.

Gu Shenwei thought of another thing: the queen mother also suspected that the killers were behind the royal family.

"Very good. ”

"You have to tell me at least a day in advance who you want to see, so today is just a waste. ”

"Well, let me think about it, let's start with the hardest part, tomorrow morning I want to see Princess Huaping, and in the afternoon I want to see King Xiao. ”

Pang Jing's face was pale, he expected such an embarrassing situation, the queen mother just sealed him an official position at this time, probably to take advantage of his husband and wife relationship with the princess, "Okay." He squeezed a word out of his teeth and immediately added, "I can't guarantee that you'll meet these two." ”

"Xiao Yi is righteous, I believe that the princess and King Xiao both understand the importance of this matter, and if they can't see the two of them, others will have reasons to refuse to see them. ”

Pang Jing felt the urge to leave with a shake of his hand, but what he said was: "There is one more thing, you are not from the Central Plains now, so it is best not to walk around, especially at night, just stay in the Huaixi Pavilion, and I will send the news here if there is anything." ”

Pang Jing turned around and left, without even saying goodbye, secretly warning himself: This is an opportunity, endure the humiliation of today, and there will be a future to come.

Shangguan Ru came, and once again asked Gu Shenwei to "accept" Su Ai, pointing out a fact: "Don't forget, you owe me a lot of favors, and you should always pay it back once in a while." ”

Gu Shenwei buried the reason for refusal that he had already thought of, and agreed to Shangguan Ru's recommendation, in fact, he was going to take Su Ai out immediately.

He didn't want to waste the first day, it was like a war, and before he charged the royal array, he had to solve his worries first, "Let's go and make a few friends in the Central Plains." He said, still not understanding what Su Ai wanted to learn from him. (To be continued.) )