Chapter 140
After hearing what he said, Fan Changyu was stunned for a while.
Then she suddenly held his face, stood on tiptoe and quickly touched his lips.
Before Xie Zheng could react, she opened the door and jumped a few steps away. Then she turned around in the dim light of the lantern under the eaves and said with a stiff face, "Well... I can go back by myself. Don't send me off. It's getting late. You should also go to bed early."
Yan Che didn't wait for Xie Zheng to reply and walked towards a path.
Xie Zheng raised his hand and touched his lips, still a little dazed.
Fan Changyu had her back to him, so he couldn't see the redness on her face. All he could catch a glimpse of was the tips of her ears, which were pale pink in the moonlight.
He called out, "Changyu."
Fan Changyu didn't even turn his head. He just raised his hand and waved with his back to him, "I told you not to see me off. I'll be there in a few more steps."
He curled his lips slightly and said faintly, "You've taken the wrong road. That road leads to the kitchen."
Fan Changyu stumbled and nearly fell.
There was silence in the air for a few moments before she turned around and walked towards another road with a normal expression, explaining seriously, "It was too dark, and I couldn't see the road clearly."
As she continued walking forward, she heard Xie Zheng's faint laughter from behind her.
Fan Changyu ignored him, half annoyed and half ashamed of himself. For some reason, his heart was beating very fast, as if there was a deer in it.
She went back to the east room in silence. The blood-stained cavalryman who was on night guard in the manor saw her return and immediately brought her hot water for washing.
After a quick wash, Fan Changyu fell on the bed, looking at the dark ceiling. Thinking of the embarrassing incident when he came back, he silently pulled the quilt beside him and covered his head.
How could such a big person be lost?
My heart was still pounding, and I felt embarrassed, yet at the same time, filled with an indescribable joy.
Perhaps she was too slow in emotions, or perhaps she had been worrying too much in the past. After talking everything out that night, she realized that liking Xie Zheng was a very happy thing.
When I think of him, the corners of my mouth inexplicably want to curl up.
She felt stuffy after staying in the quilt for too long, and just wanted to get out for some fresh air.
At this moment, there was a slight sound from the window. Fan Changyu instantly became alert and reached for the boning knife hidden under the pillow.
The bedside was slightly sunken, and Xie Zheng's clear voice was particularly clear in the darkness: "Are you asleep?"
Fan Changyu loosened his grip on the knife handle and poked his head out from under the quilt.
Her hair was messed up, with a few strands sticking up. Her eyes were clear, and her face was a little red from being covered in the quilt for too long. She looked cute and innocent. "Why are you here?"
Xie Zheng lay down on her with his clothes on. He reached his big hands into the quilt, grabbed her waist and pulled her into his arms: "Don't worry, no one saw me coming. I will be back before dawn."
Fan Changyu choked slightly: "You don't mind the trouble..."
Xie Zheng pressed his chest against her back, lowered his head to smell the faint fragrance of her hair, and said, "It's not a problem."
His breath sprayed on the back of Fan Changyu's neck, making her feel a little itchy. She dodged for a moment, but was picked up by Xie Zheng and taken back. But then he became very well-behaved, as if he really came here just to hold her and sleep.
Fan Changyu wanted to let him go, but after being held for a while, she felt something pressing against her from behind, her face changed, and she couldn't help but say, "Why don't you go back to sleep?"
Xie Zheng held her motionlessly, and replied in a deep and hoarse voice: "Don't talk, go to sleep."
Fan Changyu heard the forbearance in his voice and did not dare to move or say anything. She just lay in his arms for a while, feeling uneasy. Perhaps she was really tired, and her breathing gradually became even.
Xie Zheng listened to her calming breathing, opened his eyes and stared at her sleeping face in the darkness. After watching quietly for a while, he lowered his head and took hold of a piece of soft flesh on her neck, gently rubbing it with his teeth, leaving a red mark before letting go.
He pressed her tighter into his arms, adjusted his posture slightly, rested his chin on her shoulder, closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
-
When Fan Changyu woke up the next day, Xie Zheng was gone.
After washing up, she went to the front hall to have breakfast with Xie Zheng. Xie Zheng was about to prepare to "return to the capital". After talking with Zhu Youchang yesterday, Fan Changyu also wanted to go to the prison to interrogate the loyal servants who were brought to the capital to see if he could get any useful information.
When Zhu Youchang learned that Changning was also in the capital, he wanted to meet Changning, but the current situation was not clear. In order to avoid exposing Zhuangzi's location and attracting Wei Yan's killer, he had to wait until Wei Yan was convicted before arranging a meeting.
A carriage was ready outside the manor to take Fan Changyu back. She came with nothing in her hands, and when she left, Xie Zheng gave her all the annotated military books and maps in his room.
Fan Changyu did not refuse and accepted it all with peace of mind.
Xie Zheng also had to arrange many matters for "returning to the capital". He delivered a letter of return to the capital to the young emperor, and then led the army through Zhengyang Gate. Only then could he appear in the capital with justification.
The one who sent Fan Changyu back was Xie Shiyi.
She had already gotten into the carriage and sat down when the heavy curtains were suddenly opened.
Today was a rare day of good weather. Xie Zheng lifted the car curtain with one hand and pressed it against the side door. The warm sunlight fell on his dark eyelashes, making his stern face look much gentler.
He looked at Fan Changyu and said, "Take these military books home and read them slowly. Take a pen and paper and write down any parts you don't understand. Ask me next time."
Fan Changyu had a stack of books on his knees, with the top one still open. It was obvious that he had started reading again as soon as he got on the bus.
She nodded, looked at Xie Zheng, and then her gaze returned to the open page of the book.
When she concentrated on doing one thing, her whole body exuded a kind of earnest silliness, which made people feel endeared for some reason. Because the sunlight shining through the car door was a little dazzling, her long eyelashes were half drooped and looked furry, and her swollen lips looked even fuller.
Xie Zheng looked at her, narrowed his eyes, and suddenly said, "Is there anything you don't understand now? Let me take a look."
Yan Ji simply lowered the car curtain and walked in.
Fan Changyu stared at him in confusion. As the carriage was right at the gate of the manor, any movement inside would attract the guards' attention. When Xie Zheng pressed the back of her head and kissed her, she did not dare to struggle at all.
After the kiss, Xie Zheng glanced at the page of the military book spread out on her knees. His breathing had not yet stabilized, but his tone was as clear as before, and there was no abnormality in his voice: "The best military operation is to attack the enemy's plans, the next best is to attack their alliances, the next best is to attack their troops, and the worst is to attack their cities. Only to defeat the enemy without fighting is the best of all. Therefore, in the art of war, when attacking the enemy's plans, most of the tactics are to attack their hearts."①
Fan Changyu listened to his high-sounding summary of this page of military strategy, breathing slightly and continuing to stare at him.
His hands were already clenched into fists, but thinking that it was Zhu Youchang and the others outside, he finally endured it.
It was the first time she realized how shameless this man could be!
Xie Zheng seemed to see what she was thinking from her wide eyes. He smiled silently with the corners of his lips slightly raised. He leaned over and kissed her on the lips again before he lowered his voice and said, "Let's go."
After Xie Zheng jumped off the carriage, Xie Shiyi, who was stroking the horse's mane to check whether the reins were fastened, got on the carriage.
Zhu Youchang was sitting in a wheelchair and was pushed out of the gate by a rider in blood-stained clothes to see Fan Changyu off.
Seeing the carriage going away, Xie Zheng also rode away from the village with a few blood-stained cavalrymen to join the second wave of troops returning to the capital, creating the illusion that he had "just" returned from the north.
Zhu Youchang said with great satisfaction: "If the old general knew that his niece Changyu had become a third-rank official in the court and was highly regarded by the Marquis, and that the Meng family could continue to be loyal to the Xie family, he would be able to smile when he saw General Xie in his grave."
Xie Zhong looked at the carriages and horses going south and north without saying a word.
His Lord's feelings towards General Yunhui are probably not as simple as comradeship…
-
Fan Changyu often stayed in the military camp before, and Aunt Zhao and her husband and Changning were already used to her being away from home for a few days from time to time.
When she left Jinzouyuan yesterday, she also gave instructions to Xie Qi, so when she returned, the old couple and Changning thought she was going to do some errand and were not too worried.
Chang Ning even held up a rabbit in a bamboo basket and showed it to her excitedly: "Sister, look at Ning Niang's little rabbit!"
Fan Changyu had said before that she would not let Changning raise the rabbit because she was afraid of the trouble of leaving Beijing. But now that the rabbit had been brought back, she did not blame him. She just smiled and said, "Did you ask your Uncle Xiaoqi to help you win it or your Uncle Xiaowu?"
Chang Ning's big grape-like eyes were shining black, and she said happily: "It was Bao Er who helped me win!"
Fan Changyu couldn't help but wonder: "Bao'er also knows how to throw the pot?"
The child was not much older than Changning. He looked well-behaved on weekdays and was good at reciting poems and memorizing them. But when it came to making noise, he was not as playful as Changning.
Xie Wu, who accompanied Yu Baoer out yesterday, smiled and replied, "The young master spent the whole afternoon throwing the pot in front of the vendor's stall and almost lost all his jade pendants to the vendor. Finally, he won. The vendor was so happy that he gave him a rabbit lantern."
It turned out that Yu Baoer went out yesterday to be someone's god of wealth. Fan Changyu was at a loss for words for a moment.
She looked at Yu Baoer who was standing beside her with her lips pursed, squatted down and said to him, "Tomorrow when Auntie is free, I'll take you to that vendor again and take back all the items in his stall!"
Chang Ning was very excited when he heard this, and clapped his hands happily: "We won everything, and then Ning Niang will also set up a stall and let people throw the pot!"
Fan Changyu couldn't help laughing and pinched her soft cheeks: "Ning Niang is still a little money-grubber? Do you know how to make money?"
Chang Ning glanced at Yu Bao'er with a guilty conscience, twisted her fingers and said, "Bao'er went to the pot and spent all the money he had. I am his aunt, and I must earn money to pay him back."
These words made Aunt Zhao and Uncle Zhao couldn't help laughing.
Aunt Zhao praised her, "Our Ning Niang now acts like a young aunt."
Chang Ning's eyes narrowed, the corners of her mouth curled up, and her chest straightened a little because of the compliment.
Only Yu Baoer glanced at Changning and seemed unhappy.
After looking at the two little guys, Fan Changyu went back to her room to put away the military books that Xie Zheng had given her. However, Yu Baoer followed her like a little tail: "Aunt Changyu."
He clenched his palms, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.
Fan Changyu asked: "What happened to Baoer?"
Yu Baoer looked at her and said, "I want to learn martial arts."
This problem gave Fan Changyu a slight headache. Yu Baoer was of noble status, and she had to go through many hardships in learning martial arts, including falling and fighting.
She said, "Practicing martial arts is very hard. Why do you suddenly want to practice martial arts?"
Yu Baoer lowered her long eyelashes, pursed her lips and said nothing. After a while, she said, "I just want to learn. If I can be as good as Aunt Changyu, I can protect my mother in the future."
The fact that the emperor's grandson's men kidnapped Yu Qianqian and her son that day left a deep shadow in Yu Baoer's heart.
After hearing what he said, Fan Changyu couldn't help but became serious.
She said, "Practicing martial arts is hard, but the most valuable thing is to persevere. Studying is like sailing against the current. If you don't move forward, you will fall behind. The same is true for martial arts. Let me teach you the basics first. If you can endure this hardship and persevere, I will teach you other things later."
Yu Baoer nodded vigorously: "Okay."
Chang Ning didn't know where the cat had heard the conversation between the two, and suddenly said, "Ning Niang should learn this too! From now on, you can beat a bad guy with one punch and knock out a pig with one slap!"
She waved her fist as she spoke.
When Fan Changyu heard that she still remembered the time when she killed a pig, he couldn't help but hold his forehead.
She said, "You are not in good health, so don't make trouble."
Changning suffers from wheezing and has difficulty breathing from time to time.
When Fan's mother was pregnant with Fan Changyu, she encountered the Jinzhou incident and was rescued by Fan's father. They fled to Jizhou and were injured on the way. It was because Fan Changyu was strong in the womb that he was born safely.
But Fan's mother's health did not improve after many years of care. It was not until she was almost ten years old that she had Changning. Because of her weak body, Changning was born thin and small, and was born with wheezing. She had to take medicine from the moment she ate.
When she was fed goat's milk when she was a child, she refused to drink it because she thought it had a strong smell. It was only when Fan Changyu secretly mixed some sugar into the milk that she was coaxed into drinking it.
After Fan Changyu joined the army, he earned money and never stopped giving Changning medicine.
When Chang Ning heard that Fan Changyu refused, she ran over anxiously, grabbed her sleeve and shook her: "No, no, Ning Niang wants to learn from you."
Perhaps because she was afraid that Fan Changyu would still not agree, her eyes became red and her voice became nasal, as if she was about to cry out of grievance at the next moment.
Fan Changyu's heart softened, and she leaned over to touch Changning's head and said, "My dear Ning Niang, I will find the best doctor in the capital to treat you. If the doctor says you can learn martial arts, I will teach you, okay?"
Only then did Changning nod his head in grievance.
After meeting Zhu Youchang, she got clues to investigate Wei Yan. Fan Changyu was also very busy at the moment, but finding a doctor for Changning was equally urgent. She asked Xie Wu to go out and inquire about famous doctors in the capital that afternoon.
Fan Changyu went away to get busy. Yu Baoer looked at Changning, who still looked unhappy, and said, "It doesn't matter if you can't practice martial arts. I will protect you in the future."
Chang Ning was so angry that her face pouted. She said sullenly, "No."
Yu Baoer asked: "Why not?"
Chang Ning's chubby fingers fiddled with the pearl buttons on his clothes and said awkwardly, "Then you are stronger than me. I will never be able to beat you in the future."
Yu Baoer said: "Then I won't fight back even if you hit me in the future."
Chang Ning glanced at him with her round eyes: "Really?"
Yu Baoer nodded: "Really."
Chang Ning couldn't help but curl up his lips, and stretched out his white and tender little finger and said, "Then let's play hook and hook. If you don't keep your word, you're a puppy."
Yu Baoer stretched out her little finger and hooked it with hers, and said solemnly, "Okay, let's make a promise."
-
The imperial palace.
Qi Sheng looked at the memorial on the dragon case that had just been delivered to the palace this morning, and was so anxious that he was pacing around in the hall, "Xie Zheng is about to return to the capital, and Wei Yan has not told me yet how he will deal with these impeachments of the Li Party..."
His eyes were red with anger, and he kicked the dragon table in anger: "If Xie Zheng is like that old man from the Li family and sides with the descendants of Prince Chengde, then he came back this time just to drive me off the throne, right?"
"I have to think of a way, a way..."
The newly appointed chief eunuch was a smooth talker, and he immediately flattered, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Marquis Wu'an has a large army under his command. If he really turns against the descendant of Prince Chengde, whose authenticity is unknown, he is only trying to overthrow Wei Yan. The descendant of Prince Chengde could only promise him the throne after he usurped the throne. You can promise it to Marquis Wu'an now, as long as Marquis Wu'an is willing to lend a hand to Your Majesty, first deal with the Li family, then overthrow Wei Yan, and give him the position originally reserved for Wei Yan. This is better than him helping the descendant of Prince Chengde and then having to share power with the Li family."
Ever since Xie Zheng disobeyed the imperial order and cut off one ear of the eunuch who announced the imperial order, Qi Sheng had always remembered this hatred of contempt for the imperial power.
Qi Sheng was extremely reluctant to let Xie Zheng take Wei Yan's position, but now it was obvious that Wei Yan could not do anything to the Li family. Qi Sheng also began to waver as to whether Wei Yan could help him keep the throne.
He stared at the eunuch with his slightly bulging eyes: "I have become so hostile to him, can you help me think of a way to control him?"
This question stumped the eunuch. Facing Qi Sheng's murderous gaze, he could only bite the bullet and smile awkwardly, "Men, what they can only be obsessed with is power, wealth, and beauty, right?"
Saying this is the same as not saying it.
Qi Sheng sat back on the dragon chair, propping his head with one hand, his slightly protruding eyes with bloodshot eyes: "Beauty? I want to arrange a marriage between her and my sister. How did he treat me?"
The eunuch's eyes turned, and he suddenly said: "The eldest princess seems to have a connection with Wu'an Marquis..."
Qi Sheng raised his eyelids suddenly and sneered, "He Xie Zheng rejected my marriage proposal and now has contact with my sister. What does he want to do? My sister has also disappointed me. I am so good to her, but she is also looking for a way out for herself?"
His eyes were cold, and he suddenly looked at the eunuch: "How did you know that?"
The eunuch's legs went limp, and he knelt down directly: "I dare not deceive your majesty. I have an adopted son who is married to a maid in the palace of the eldest princess. When the maid went in to pour tea, she accidentally heard the eldest princess instructing her trusted eunuch to deliver the letter to the people of Wu'an Marquis."
Qi Sheng began to scratch the armrests of the dragon chair with his fingers. The sound of nails colliding with metal was particularly harsh. "What has the emperor done recently?"
The eunuch looked at Qi Sheng calmly and said in a pinched voice: "I heard that someone from the Princess's palace has been frequently entering the cold palace recently, and has been very close to a crazy maid from Concubine Jia's palace..."
Qi Sheng dug his fingertips with more force, and his neatly trimmed nails were worn into uneven gaps by the relief carved on the armrest. He murmured, "She is helping Xie Zheng investigate the affairs of the Sixteenth Brother... Why is Xie Zheng investigating the Sixteenth Brother?"
A nail couldn't bear the weight and broke.
This slight pain also made Qi Sheng, who was immersed in his own thoughts, suddenly raise his head.
His slightly protruding eyes were so bright and creepy that the eunuch got goosebumps all over his body when he was stared at by him.
Qi Sheng smiled, his expression showing an inexplicable excitement, and stared at the chief eunuch sinisterly: "Go, bring the crazy maid in the cold palace to me. Be careful and don't let the imperial sister hear anything."
The author has something to say:
① From Sun Tzu's Art of War
I recommend this ancient campus novel to my gay friend. Both the male and female protagonists are super cute!
"Who is saying bad things about the young master" by Fengge Qiexing
Copywriter:
Lu Shujin, who lost her father at a young age, was raised in her aunt's home. When she was sixteen years old, her aunt arranged a marriage for her and negotiated a good price for her.
The night before her wedding, Lu Shujin packed up her things and ran away.
After arriving in the prosperous Yuncheng, Lu Shujin heard that Haizhou Academy was enrolling students for free and provided food and accommodation. In order to avoid her aunt's search, she disguised herself as a man and took the exam, and was successfully selected into the academy.
On the first day on her way to school, when she was buying buns on the roadside, she heard a few people from Haizhou Academy gathered around her and talked about the young master of the Xiao family. They were talking at once, and not a single word was nice to hear. Lu Shujin didn't want to get into trouble, so when she was about to leave, a bun hit her on the back of the head.
Lu Shujin turned around and saw a young man in gorgeous clothes standing ten steps away, stepping on the morning sun, with a handsome face full of arrogance: "Who is saying bad things about me?"
Lu Shujin touched the back of his head and felt a chill in his heart.
Xiao Jin, the young master of the Xiao family, is a well-known figure in Yuncheng. He was born into a famous family, but he was eccentric and rebellious, which won the hearts of many rich girls in the city.
When Xiao Jin first met Lu Shujin, she thought: This weak boy, if I punch him, he will cry for at least three days.
Seeing that Lu Shujin was weak and could be bullied, Xiao Jin took her in as her younger brother. She was extremely obedient when Xiao Jin asked her to do small things on weekdays, and she was also given the homework assigned by the teacher, and Xiao Jin never dared to object.
Until one day, Xiao Jin saw her soaking two pieces of paper in water by the pool. When she came to the school, she took out the smudged article and gave it to him, saying, "It rained and got wet."
蕭衿舔了舔後槽牙，笑了:“你是不是欠揍
[But later, when Lu Shujin really shed tears in front of him, Xiao Jin wiped her tears with eyes full of emotion and great restraint, and said in a voice full of helplessness: "Lu Shujin, it would be great if you were a girl."]
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2. An ancient campus story about a girl dressed as a man, full of funny daily life.
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