Fu Song

Chapter 307
Xiao Qi stood quietly by the pond in the back garden.

Xiao's garden is not as big as usual.Even this pond is about the size of an acre.

It has been snowing these days, and the garden is full of snow, which actually covers the original path so that it cannot be seen.Xiao Qi walked all the way, but left behind a long line of footprints.

There shouldn't be so much snow in the garden.In the past, the servants at home would have cleaned up the snow in the garden. Even if they sometimes wanted to keep some snow fun, the road would definitely be cleared.

But now, there are not many people left in the family.

A considerable part of the family’s guards from the army followed Xiao Cheng to Qianzhou, and the rest of them, after Xiao Yu’s accident, Xu Wuyan immediately reported to Mrs. Han, and almost all of them were dismissed. .

The rest are really old, weak, sick and disabled people with nowhere to go.

But Xiao Qi knew that the people who left didn't really leave, but were arranged by Xu Wuyan to go to another place as a backup.

Although wrapped in a thick fur coat, his face was still flushed with cold. The wind blew through the garden and through the bamboo forest, and the humming sound was particularly bleak. The blown snow powder hit his face, and he felt a little pain .

Xiao Qi felt very lonely.

Although the eldest brother has not been at home, but with the second brother here, she doesn't need to worry about anything.

Although the second elder brother is a man, his heart is more delicate than that of a woman, and he arranges everything clearly for him.The second brother went to Qianzhou later, and Xiao Qi was not used to it for a long time.

But there is still Daddy at home.

Xiao Qi is still the carefree girl who can read, write, recite poems and write articles.

Suddenly, Daddy wasn't home.

A few days ago, my mother also fell ill.

Suddenly, Xiao Qi felt that it was time for her to grow up.In the past, my father and brother supported me, but now, I am afraid that I will be the master of the house.

Regardless of her mother's family background, she usually seems to be a very insightful person, but Xiao Qi knows that these things are some habits cultivated since childhood.When it comes to managing a family and running the family business, that mother is indeed a good hand, but these are all internal.

Once something really happens outside, Mother really has no idea.

Just like now.

Mother is smart, maybe she has already guessed something, but she doesn't want to admit it.

Otherwise, why did the disease come so suddenly and so fiercely?

There were light footsteps coming from behind, Xiao Qi didn't turn her head back, she was fascinated to see a golden fish swimming back and forth under the transparent ice surface of the pond, touching the ice surface with its beak from time to time, Those eyes seemed to be looking at Xiao Qi.

In the past Xiao Qi often stood here to feed these fish, or these fish had recognized her and wanted to swim up to accept her feeding, but there was a transparent barrier blocking them.

"Third lady!" After a few steps, Wu Ke stopped, bowed and said: "There is news from the Ministry of War that Zheng Xiong's soldiers and horses on Jingji Road have been ordered to transfer to Shaanxi. There is also Hedong Road, The soldiers and horses on Qinfeng Road are also preparing to move to Shaanxi Road, and the documents have already been sent out."

Xiao Qi swayed, her face, which was originally flushed with cold, was instantly blushed.

"Also, San Niangzi." Wu Ke looked up at Xiao Qi, and took a step forward with some worry, "A friend in the Privy Council has reported that Zhang Chao may have left Bianliang."

Xiao Qi raised her head and looked at the gray sky.

Tears fell from the corners of his eyes.

There is no need for other evidence. The news brought back by Wu Ke has basically confirmed one thing.

Daddy is gone.

The soldiers and horses on Jingji Road, Qinfeng Road, and Hedong Road are all moving to Shaanxi Road.And Shaanxi Road is no longer the border of the Song Dynasty.Since Li Xu was killed by Xiao Ding, there was no foreign enemy to threaten Shanxi Road.This is why the imperial court transferred a large number of soldiers and horses from Shaanxi Road to Hebei Road.

After all, after the casualties of the frontier army on Hebei Road were exhausted, the troops on Shaanxi Road that had fought against Li Xu and Li Du brothers were always stronger than the troops around Bianliang, which had never seen the world.

And now, what is the imperial court doing suddenly to transfer troops to Shaanxi Road?Zhang Chao, who just came back from Hebei, went to Shaanxi again. What kind of things require Zhang Chao to go to Shaanxi?

Who is it?

Of course it's my eldest brother Xiao Ding.

Why are you guarding against Big Brother?

The reasons behind this are self-evident.

Footsteps sounded again, without looking, Xiao Qi knew that it was Xu Wuyan who had returned.In the past, the footsteps that were always calm and unhurried, but today they seemed a little flustered, with varying severity, and even a little staggering.

Xu Wuyan did come staggeringly.

Outside, he still tried his best to keep calm, but when he entered the house, he couldn't hold back any longer.

Xiao Yu is ten years younger than him!

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Xiao Yu grew up under his watch.

He never thought that he sent away the old man Xiao Ding, and now he sent away Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu told him that he wanted to give Xu Wuyan his retirement, and promised that after Xu Wuyan passed away, he would be buried in the Xiao family's family tomb.

But now, this lively person suddenly disappeared.

"Old butler!" Wu Ke called out.

Xu Wuyan sniffled, but did not respond, and walked to Xiao Qi's side silently.

"Have you got any definite news?" A pair of tearful eyes looked at Xu Wuyan, but still hopeful.

"It's gone, Da Lang is gone!" Feeling agitated, Xu Wuyan couldn't help calling Xiao Yu what he called Xiao Yu many years ago: "People in the palace said that Da Lang died a miserable death!"

Xiao Qi bit her lips tightly, there were tears streaming down her face before, but at this moment, not a single tear fell down.

"Third lady, cry out loud, don't hold it in your heart!" Xu Wuyan choked up.

Xiao Qi took a deep breath and shook her head: "I won't cry. Now is not the time to cry. Even if I want to cry, I have to wait until I see my eldest brother or second brother. Grandpa Xu, we must leave immediately, leave Bianliang."

"That's right, we have to leave Bianliang immediately!" Xu Wuyan nodded vigorously: "The bachelor died in the hands of the court, and neither Dalang nor Erlang will give up with the court. We are still in the court. Bianliang's words will become a weapon in the hands of the imperial court, and they will use us to threaten Dalang and Erlang."

"Yes!" Xiao Qi said: "Eldest brother and second brother have many choices, but if we fall into the hands of the imperial court, their choices will be reduced."

"The old slave will arrange the outside affairs, and the third lady will let you worry about the family affairs." Xu Wuyan said.

"Mother, I will go and talk about it!" Xiao Qi nodded and said: "The news must be sent out immediately, and sent to the eldest brother and the second brother as quickly as possible. cheated by them."

"Before I came to see the third lady, I had already arranged it. There were three groups of people from Dalang Erlang's side, and they set off along different routes. Since something like this happened, if you want to come to the court, the news will be blocked and traffic will be cut off. We At home, I'm afraid they've been stared at for a long time. Third lady, we're going, we have to hurry up at home, and leave as soon as the outside is ready. No one else will take it with you, only Madam and you. "

Xiao Qi nodded: "Grandpa Xu, be careful, it looks calm outside now, I'm afraid the murderous intention has already been hidden."

Watching Xu Wuyan and Wu Ke walk away gradually, the tears that Xiao Qi had been holding back finally rushed down like a river breaking its embankment. She squatted down slowly, buried her head between her knees, and put her hands together. He hugged his knees and sobbed.

Tears fell, and the snow on the ground was smashed into small pits.

I don't know how long it has passed, Xiao Qi finally stood up, wiped his eyes dry, rubbed his face vigorously, and took a deep breath of the cold air, letting his heart, which was like burning like fire, cool down a little. Some.

Walking all the way into the inner room, she waved her hand to make all the maids in the room retreat. She opened the curtain, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked at Mrs. Han lying on the bed.

"Mother!" Xiao Qi called softly.

Mrs. Han's eyes were a little dull, she looked at Xiao Qi, and murmured: "Xiao Yao, your father, is he gone?"

Xiao Qi stretched out her hand and tightly grasped Mrs. Han's hand.

Looking at Xiao Qi, who was biting her lip, pale but silent, Mrs. Han suddenly understood, and she burst into tears: "Is it true? Has Steward Xu heard the news? Could it be a mistake? Could it be that your father just fell ill?"

Xiao Qi held Mrs. Han's hand tightly in her own, and hardened her heart: "Mother, father is gone, do you think elder brother and second elder brother are gone?"

Mrs. Han's crying stopped suddenly, "Your eldest brother and second brother are doing well... What about the matter of Bianliang, your eldest brother and second brother?"

"Mother, the imperial court is sending a large number of troops to Shaanxi Road. Zhang Chao and Zhang Taiwei have already gone to Shaanxi!" Xiao Qi said: "Daddy is gone, and he died at the hands of the imperial court. They are afraid that elder brother will rebel because of this."

"Rebellion?" Mrs. Han was shocked and sat up suddenly, shaking her head in a panic: "No, no, no, your elder brother will not rebel, no."

"If the news of Daddy's death reaches Big Brother, we don't know what choice Big Brother will make!" Xiao Qi said, "Mother, you haven't cared much about outside affairs, maybe you don't know. The imperial court is already very suspicious of the elder brother. Do you know how vast the area under the rule of the elder brother is now? Do you know how many tiger and cardinal divisions the elder brother has under his command? Moreover, in the past two years, the elder brother has not paid much attention to the orders of the imperial court. Shaanxi Road appeases the envoy Lan Sixin's order cannot pass Hengshan at all."

"You, what do you mean?"

"Mother, we have always been hostages of the imperial court. In the past, with daddy around, everyone could maintain a superficial harmony, but now daddy is gone, and he died for no apparent reason." Telling about Yu's miserable death, she didn't want her mother's fragile heart to be further stimulated. "So, we can't fall into the hands of the imperial court. If the elder brother is really rebellious, maybe our mother and daughter will be tied up by the imperial court and placed in front of the battle between the two armies to threaten the elder brother!"

"Your elder brother really knows..." Mrs. Han was confused. The education she had received since she was a child made her somewhat unacceptable to such a possibility.

"Why not?" Xiao Qi's apricot eyes widened: "Could it be that after letting them kill father, let the rest of my Xiao family obediently bind their hands and send them to them so that they can kill again? Mother , do you think that the eldest brother was also imprisoned by them, and then died for no reason?"

"Of course not!" Mrs. Han yelled.

"Yes, mother, we can't let them do whatever they want, we have to leave Bianliang!" Xiao Qi said.

"Are you looking for your elder brother?"

"I'm afraid we have no way to go to Big Brother now!" Xiao Qi shook her head and said, "But we have to leave Bianliang so that they can't find us."

"I, let's go right away!" Mrs. Han turned over in a panic and got out of bed, looking around for her clothes.Finally found the outer clothes, Mrs. Han put them on indiscriminately, halfway through, but suddenly stopped: "I'm afraid, I'm afraid we won't be able to leave."

"It's impossible to leave obviously." Xiao Qi said: "But the second brother still left some manpower in Bianliang back then, and now Steward Xu is making arrangements, and we can leave when Steward Xu makes arrangements. But There must have been a lot of hard work along the way, so mother, I know you are very sad and sad, and I am the same, but we all have to be strong. Take care of your body quickly."

Mrs. Han nodded, but finally couldn't bear the sadness that came again like a tide, fell down on the bed, and began to cry.

Inside the Forbidden Palace, Quan Gong picked up a scented pill, put it in his nose and sniffed it carefully. Opposite him, although the young prisoner Qin Ze was sitting on a chair, his whole body was trembling.

"This fragrant pill actually has such an effect?" Quan Gong was very curious.

"Villain, villain doesn't know!" Qin Ze's voice trembled.

Although in terms of rank, he is only one level behind in power, but in terms of power and status, the difference between the two is vast.To put it simply, Quan Gong killed Qin Ze as easily as crushing an ant.

"So, Tianxiang Pavilion is also related to the Xiao family?" Quan Gong put down the incense pill, and said, "No wonder, no wonder the owner of Tianxiang Pavilion stayed in Jiangnan and never came back once Xiao Cheng went to the south. Qin Ze, Do you know what it means for you to reveal the news of Xiao Yu's death?"

"me……"

"The officials, the chief assistant, and the others tried so hard to conceal this news, but it was ruined in your hands unexpectedly." Quan Gong sighed and stood up: "You know that in this way, we will have to spend more money." What happened? If the news leaks out ahead of time, it will be you, even Concubine Pang, I'm afraid I'll have to hang up."

(End of this chapter)