Looking at the Sword by Lamplight (XI)

Bian Hongqiu's mind was in turmoil. It was already quite hot at noon in Huangque Island at this time of year. The light passed through the window and fell into the curtains from afar, illuminating the bed on one side very brightly. Meng Shizhuang was sitting on the bed on the other side. Her back was as straight as before, no longer stiff or sickly, but instead had a kind of scattered grayness.

The other person first looked at the dusty window, then turned his gaze to his right hand which had been wrapped in bandages for a long time. Finally, he noticed Bian Hongqiu's still unwilling eyes, then he looked up and gave him a sharp look.

"Still watching?"

Bian Hongqiu grabbed the quilt and turned away, "I understand."

His voice was very low, and Meng Shizhuang keenly heard that the weight of this sentence was as elusive as the volume of his voice.

Meng Shizhuang rudely ordered them to leave: "Get out."

He has no sense of being a dependent.

Bian Hongqiu had no choice but to stand up, his head aching, and left the main courtyard, reeking of alcohol. He couldn't hide his dejection. As he stepped out of the courtyard, he ran into Song Jingyan, who was bringing him some sobering soup.

Song Jingyan was also stumped when Hengbo asked, "Which courtyard is His Highness resting in now?" just as she ordered sobering soup. With the city's affairs initially settled, matters within the military and the government complex and chaotic, she was rushing to deal with urgent matters first. When she first arrived at the garrison, she'd delegated miscellaneous tasks to Hengbo. Later, she'd occasionally dispatched him, casually appointing Qin He Qiu He to take over, leaving many matters unattended.

She thought about it and felt that if Bian Hongqiu had not left the house for the camp in the middle of the night, he would most likely stay at Meng Shizhuang's place.

In this case, there is probably no need to ask people to prepare an extra courtyard - either Bian Hongqiu will find another excuse not to come back for ten days or half a month, or Meng Shizhuang will pack up and leave.

Hengbo followed Song Jingyan with the hangover soup in his hand. After observing her carefully, he felt that the word "laziness" was written all over Song Jingyan. In the past, it would have been impossible for His Highness to have nowhere to go.

wrong.

In the past, Song Jingyan would be worried if Bian Hongqiu didn't eat a grain of rice. How could she let a drunk Bian Hongqiu go crazy with others while she went back to her room to have a good night's sleep?

Bian Hongqiu was so weak after the hangover that he walked all the way with his brows pinched, and didn't notice Song Jingyan approaching.

Song Jingyan called out to him, "Your Highness, do you have a severe headache?"

Bian Hongqiu put down his hands and looked at her, and they both turned their heads away tacitly.

Song Jingyan feels guilty.

She also had some thoughts of letting Bian Hongqiu break the ice. The seven emotions, the six desires, love, hate, anger, and infatuation—those who have experienced them can't teach them, and those who observe from the outside can't learn them. Besides, the Liang Palace is full of bachelors, from Mr. Liu, who is sixty years old, to the fifteen or sixteen-year-old soldiers from the Western Territory who haven't even grown a hair yet. Only Song Jingyan, a seemingly pure and unselfish person, had a love affair that ended without success.

The more you care about someone, the more likely it is to become an obsession.

After all, His Royal Highness Prince Liang is the commander-in-chief of a region. He cannot intimidate the whole world. Dayu is also a big country. I believe that since I am in the middle of the situation, I will not be confused about the friendship and gratitude, right?

Bian Hongqiu was quite embarrassed to face the person who had seen him drunk and crazy last night.

At this age, any worries and troubles can be suppressed and gone. What's the point of spreading them to the whole world?

He took the hangover soup handed to him by Hengbo and drank it all in one gulp. He responded vaguely to Song Jingyan's concern and then asked, "Where is Liu Lang? Is he with Mr. Liu?"

Song Jingyan: "He just had lunch in the front yard, and it seems he's back in the study."

After she reminded him, Bian Hongqiu finally realized what time it was. He said, "I'll go to the study... That's all, I..."

Song Jingyan continued, "Your Highness, please go to the side courtyard to wash up and change into clean clothes. I'll have someone call Liu Lang over."

Bian Hongqiu nodded and raised his hand to stop Hengbo from supporting him: "Well, bring some food and medicine to Ah Shi." The maids in the mansion had already told him the rules. They must have knocked on the door in the morning, but he, a drunkard, didn't hear it. Meng Shizhuang didn't say anything either, so he didn't dare to push the door and disturb him.

Song Jingyan nodded, and let Hengbo follow Bian Hongqiu, while she asked someone else to go to the study.

In the side courtyard, Bian Hongqiu soaked in the warm water of the tub, finally easing the fatigue of a night spent sleeping on the floor. He rested one hand on his temples, his mind growing clearer. Behind the screen, he heard steady footsteps, then stopped outside with measured steps. He stretched his stiff body in the water. "Is it coming?"

Liu Lang placed a simple magnolia embroidered screen with him, bowed and said, "Your Highness, what are your instructions?"

Bian Hongqiu: "What's the situation over at Chunxiangzhou?"

Liu Lang had already guessed the purpose of his summons. He took out a piece of traceless paper from his sleeve, and after getting Bian Hongqiu's permission, he walked around the screen and handed the letter to him.

"Madam Li has discovered that what the court wants may be in the hands of Concubine Wen."

Bian Hongqiu unwrapped the palm-sized letter, and water droplets gradually smudged the ink, turning the character "方" into a smudged mess. "They say a general on the battlefield is subject to his emperor's orders. This general is truly a foolish man, having been able to delay the court for ten years for his beloved." He crumpled the soaked letter into the shape of a paper boat and placed it in the bathtub. "The entire Wen family has defected. Once this thing that makes the court hesitant is gone, all the rebels who followed the King of Jingxi will have no chance of escape, unless they switch sides at the last minute like Madam Li, who can still offset their merits and demerits."

Liu Lang: "Yes, it seems that General Fang has not yet been able to persuade Concubine Wen to give up King Jingxi."

Bian Hongqiu snorted and laughed, "One man's poison may be another man's honey. He's so self-righteous that he wants our Western Border soldiers to risk their lives to buy him time."

Liu Lang knew that he had a plan, so he asked dryly, "What does Your Highness mean?"

Bian Hongqiu watched the paper boat sink into the tub. The water had cooled. He stood up, water droplets cascading down his undergarment. From his vantage point behind him, Liu Lang could only vaguely see a sturdy figure outlined beneath the half-visible undergarment. And the body's owner was as resolute and resolute as his youthful frame: "We can't delay any longer. Xi Zhongting apologized bluntly, and he didn't even acknowledge the message I sent, 'No more rash advances.' His Majesty is ill in the capital. If he orders us to arrest this wolf, we'll all perish along with the traitors in the western border."

No matter how thorough, meticulous, courageous, and resourceful Xi Zhongting might be, he was still human. His emotional weakness was likely the king he had supported since childhood. After years of planning, victory was within reach, but His Majesty, who most desired to unify Dayu, could not see the end. How could he willingly wait for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne before proceeding slowly?

He is still a desperate criminal who refuses to listen to advice.

In this world, those who are barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes. Bian Hongqiu was tied to the Prince Liang's Mansion and the Western Border Army, so he had no choice but to compromise.

Bian Hongqiu: "I remember you said that the Li family in Lanzhou is quite wealthy?"

Liu Lang: "Madam Li told me that the clan swallowed up their branch's property, along with the rare treasures she and Madam Xiao brought from overseas, and grew many times over. They've experienced ups and downs over the past few decades, but their accumulated wealth is there. If they could seize everything, they could easily support two Western Border armies."

Bian Hongqiu replied calmly, "Then I'll copy it."

Liu Lang reminded him, "Lord Cui Yue, the founder of Lanzhou, is upright and honest. I'm afraid he won't take action without a valid excuse."

Bian Hongqiu stepped out of the tub and put on the newly prepared clothes. Her wet hair was still dripping from her shoulders. She turned around with a smile on her face: "Liu Lang, you are here too. Some things should be returned to their original owners."

He pulled off the sash hanging on the screen and said, "Mrs. Li also agreed, didn't she?"

Liu Lang looked at the graceful Prince Liang in front of him and suddenly said, "My brother's legs are not on my body."

Bian Hongqiu just smiled and said nothing.

—

As the sun set, Liu Lang went to knock on the door of Meng Shizhuang, who had just packed her bags.

Meng Shizhuang frowned: "You want to cross the river and return to Lanzhou?"

Liu Lang nodded, took the two knives from Meng Shizhuang's hands, and pulled him to sit down.

"Brother, I've never told you that Grandma did find my mother in Huangque Island."

Meng Shizhuang wasn't angry at his concealment, but her expression slightly stiffened. "So, are you going back to Lanzhou with your mother and grandma this time?"

Liu Lang looked at him with wide eyes: "How is that possible? I promised to follow you in the future."

He seemed to hesitate, but finally sighed, "My mother doesn't want me anymore."

Meng Shizhuang didn't know how to comfort him. Even at this age, he still had no particular feelings about the word "parents," just as he had back in Sujian Mountain. But after wandering the world for so long, he probably understood what it felt like. Perhaps it was just like when he woke up one day in Keju on Sujian Mountain and someone told him that Laoju had abandoned him and left the mountain.

But this is not entirely appropriate.

Because he also felt that it was a good thing for Lao Ju to abandon him as a burden.

He hesitantly placed his hand on Liu Lang's shoulder: "You...I want you, don't be afraid."

Liu Lang knew him well enough to know that this was the greatest comfort he could offer. He sniffed and said, half-truthfully, "I'm not sad. She left me a lot of money, enough for many people to live comfortably for a lifetime."

Money.

Meng Shizhuang thought that Liu Lang should still be sad.

He had once placed great value on copper coins, resorting to every trick in the book to cheat and deceive people. But after Lao Ju's death, he felt they were the most useless thing in the world, and for a time, he lost touch with copper coins. Even with the "windfall" from the Liang Palace, he didn't feel happy or sad when he "spent money like gold."

Meng Shizhuang thought for a moment and pushed the Mulan sword on the table an inch away. "Do you want to live with your mother? I'll go and bring her to you."

If "parents" are as important as your parents, you should fight for them with all your might.

Liu Lang's face was showing sadness that he could hardly hold back.

Of course, he did have a desire for Li Yan, but that desire vanished without a trace the moment they met. He acknowledged Li Yan as his mother, but Li Yan probably didn't like being addressed as such. Perhaps, after conquering the entire Western Territory, once she was completely free of her dependence on her second husband, she would prefer to be called "Miss Li."

He and Li Yan will no longer have the fate of mother and son.

They can't trap each other.

Liu Lang felt more guilty about Meng Shizhuang. He knew that Meng Shizhuang must be thinking of Lao Ju.

He tried his best to control his expression, half lowering his head: "I don't want her, I only want you, brother."

His chest rose and fell dramatically, and he raised his face with a casual air. "Let's not talk about her anymore. Brother, I came to you to tell you that I've promised to donate all this money to the Liang Palace. There are still many things in this world that money can't buy, such as rare medicinal herbs, and Mr. Zhou in the palace. I've told His Highness that the condition is that they do their utmost to heal your injuries."

"Brother, you can rest assured and recuperate in the mansion. This is what His Highness promised me."

Meng Shizhuang was about to refuse, but he felt his injuries were no longer serious, and Huirenjitang could still be self-sufficient. Moreover, Bian Hongqiu's crazy talk from last night was still fresh in his mind, and he felt really uncomfortable staying here, as if he had incurred a love debt with no end. A lot of words were turning around in his stomach. He didn't want to refuse Liu Lang's kindness, and it was even more difficult to tell such a ridiculous thing to a child. "It's not safe for you to go to Kailanzhou, and my injuries are not serious. I will go with you."

Liu Lang gave an optimistic smile: "Your Highness has agreed to go with me personally, so I will just stay here to recuperate."

Meng Shizhuang: “…”

However, Bian Hongqiu was not at home.

Liu Lang persuaded and persuaded, using excuses such as "Don't let Mr. Zhou run back and forth between Renjitang and the garrison." Meng Shizhuang finally nodded and said, "When you come back from Kailanzhou, we will go back to Renjitang."

After this exhortation, it was time to light the lamps.

Meng Shizhuang didn't want Liu Lang, who was at such a young age to grow up, to eat some porridge with him to heal his injuries, so she drove him to the front yard.

As soon as Liu Lang went out, he saw Bian Hongqiu leaning over the window and then straightening up.

Seeing Liu Lang's gaze sweeping over him, he walked ahead and asked confidently after leaving the courtyard, "Your brother is willing to speak to you in a gentle and roundabout way."

Liu Lang smiled gently, "Yes, brother is always different from outsiders and those he cares about."

No way.

He had quarreled with Lao Ju even when he was seriously ill.

Liu Lang just happened to touch Meng Shizhuang's late-blooming heart with a few words he came up with.

But he certainly wouldn't say it out loud and ruin his own reputation.

Bian Hongqiu turned around and Liu Lang looked at him fearlessly, which made him so angry that he walked away in anger.

He didn't waste time, knowing that Meng Shizhuang agreed only because he, the "trouble", was not in the mansion. If he stayed for two more days, even Liu Lang's pity might be useless.

Liu Lang, intent on making things difficult for him, rose early the next morning and waited outside Meng Shizhuang's door. Meng Shizhuang simply walked him out the door and called it a day. Poor Bian Hongqiu stood outside the mansion like a peacock for over half an hour, only to be met with uninformed ridicule from the bachelors, led by Qi Ziyu.

Hearing the noise outside the mansion gradually subside, Meng Shizhuang felt relieved.

With Bian Hongqiu gone, and his injuries gradually healing, he began to move about the garrison with confidence. He initially continued to visit Mr. Zhou, and later occasionally went to the study to have tea with Mr. Liu—though these visits were rare. Mr. Liu, suddenly free for a few days, found his talking too easy, and whenever Meng Shizhuang came, he would recite a spell to tighten the headband.

Mr. Zhou rested in his mansion. The battle with the King of Jingxi had taken a break, and the military doctors in the camp were busy. Only a few generals would come to him to ask for medicine for their own injuries, which would be used in the competition. Meng Shizhuang watched from the side, sometimes helping to look up prescriptions. When his injuries were better, he could no longer stay idle. He took Lao Ju's knife and went to the newly built training ground in the garrison.

On the training ground, General Qi, who had been guarding the arena for more than half a month, was smiling brightly.

Shao Zheng was still deploying at the west city gate. This time, Bian Hongqiu brought Yan He to open Lanzhou. He had no one above him, so he sang for more than ten days in a row and drove away most of the generals who were on rest in the garrison.

Meng Shizhuang often got up a quarter of an hour earlier than General Qi, so she didn't find it very troublesome.

He had lived in the mansion for several months and had become quite familiar with these Western Border soldiers. Qi Ziyu spotted him from afar and, as if he had never met a match for him, beckoned him forward: "Master Meng, would you like to challenge me to a duel?"