Mountains and rivers pray for peace

The night was lonely and the moon and stars were sparse.

Huo Qi and Usnea were walking on the road back to Yuanfuyi, their feet making a "creak" sound when they stepped on the bluestone road.

Usnea raised the paper bag in her hand and said with a smile: "Girl, what I bought is the rouge from Zhuangyanzhai in Suiyang City. I heard that this rouge can not only add color, but also make people have strong muscles and white skin." Like snow, it’s very good.”

Huo Qi smiled inadvertently: "We have just settled in Suiyang, and you have already found out everything about the restaurants and rouge shops here."

When Usnea heard this, her eyes showed a little child-like pride.

"Thanks to the lady in charge of the kitchen in the hotel. I happened to meet her when I was arranging tomorrow's breakfast. She told me a lot about Suiyang's interesting places."

Usnea sighed, her expression still full of meaning: "Oh, it's a pity that we have to go up the mountain tomorrow."

"This lady in charge is quite a warm-hearted person."

"Isn't that right?" Usluo chuckled, then asked bluntly, "Girl, is Mr. Feng reliable?"

She did not hear the conversation between Huo Qi and Feng Qing, but when Mr. Feng left, there was a smile that could not be concealed in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows. Where was the slump from before? She is not stupid, there must be some kind of agreement between the two people.

"Very reliable, I hope he doesn't let me down."

Huo Qi's voice was as cold as autumn dew.

Usluo's heart skipped a beat and she stared blankly at half of her face.

The adult in front of him had a smile on his face and his eyes were clear and light. In the night, he looked like a lily blooming quietly, beautiful and fragrant. But why did she feel that the most powerful poison was quenched in this lily stamen?

※※※

By the time the two of them returned to Guanyi, it was almost midnight.

Perhaps because he was too tired from traveling during the day, the entire hotel had fallen asleep, and even the guards guarding the door were dozing off with their arms crossed.

Huo Qi avoided the eyes and ears of the imperial guards, passed through the dark-grey moon cave door, and went straight to the west courtyard.

As soon as he stepped into the entrance of the courtyard, Huo Qi saw a tall young man standing in the center.

The man had black hair and a golden crown and stood with his hands behind his back. In the night, the ice blue brocade robe made the person look dazzling and flawless.

Who is it if it’s not Yuan Shao?

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Yuan Shao turned around, looked at Huo Qi up and down, raised his eyebrows and said, "It's so late at night, where did Mr. Huo go to have fun?"

Usluo felt weak and looked at Huo Qi instinctively.

Along the way, the prince hardly spoke to adults, and he did not seem to be as easy to get along with as rumored. If you get caught by him, something might be wrong...

Huo Qi looked much more at ease. She ignored Yuan Shao's sarcasm and simply said: "Give me Rouge. You can go down and rest first."

Yuan Shao's eyes fell on the paper package in Usluo's hand, the meaning was unclear.

Usnea stuffed the paper bag into Huo Qi's palm, bowed timidly and left.

Only Yuan Shao and Huo Qi were left, and the spacious courtyard became inexplicably cramped.

Yuan Shao stared at Huo Qi faintly, half-mocking and half-smiling: "I can't tell, but you still protect that palace maid."

Huo Qi looked silent: "He's just a child. If something happens, it's hard to explain to Yang Shangyi. The prince will not focus on a child, right?"

Yuan Shao was noncommittal.

She seemed to be tired, her interest was waning, and she walked to the side room without saying much.

As he passed by, the sarcastic voice sounded again.

"Huo Qi, can a person's temperament change drastically overnight?"

Huo Qi didn't answer, his figure stretched out by the night.

Yuan Shao stared at the retreating figure, his eyes full of madness.

It has been a year since last autumn chrysanthemum feast.

This year, every time in the dead of night, what came to his mind was Huo Qi's beautiful smile.

At first, he resented Huo Qi's betrayal, and all he wanted on his mind was revenge. After calming down, what surprised him was Huo Qi's change. Before her accident happened in the paddock, the two of them had agreed to go to the street to watch the Lantern Festival together during the Lantern Festival. Huo Qi's smile at that time was all real. He had eyes and could see it. He thought that as soon as Huo Qi and the hairpin ceremony were over, his father and mother would come to propose marriage.

The first time the two met after the accident was Qiu Ju's banquet. At that time, Huo Qi changed, and her change was not just the way she looked at him.

The original Huo Qi seemed dignified and quiet, but in fact he was rebellious.

When she was very young, she loved to learn horse riding and archery from Huo Xian. In the past, when she went to attend banquets at the homes of officials in the capital, she would keep her upper body straight and show off, but her lower body would kick off her shoes at the bottom of her skirt, but no one would notice her small movements.

But at Qiu Ju's banquet, she sat motionless like a nun, even more lifeless than the queen above.

There are traces of everything, and he thought of many possibilities.

Maybe someone said something to her that instigated the relationship between the two of them. Maybe she had someone else in mind, so she framed him. He even thought about the fact that the original Huo Qi had his soul replaced by a bad guy.

But Huo Qi's change was without reason.

This became a mystery that only he knew, making him excited, sad and twisted.

He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and he was lucky enough to have a good skin. Ever since he was young, he has always been surrounded by sweethearts. Which woman doesn't want to marry into the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion?

But as he grew up, Huo Qi was his favorite.

As for why?

He took it for granted.

Huo Qi is the most arrogant green bamboo among the hundreds of flowers, and also the most exquisite porcelain on the ancient shelf.

He should have the best.

In addition to this, it was probably because he discovered Huo Qi's superiority much earlier than others.

When Huo Qi was seven years old, he took the initiative to ask for a copybook from the former Master Liu.

They have been childhood sweethearts for many years, and this is the first time Huo Qi takes the initiative to beg him.

At that time, the satisfaction in his chest was almost overflowing. He smiled and said, "What's the problem? If you want it, I can give it to you at any time. But you have to tell me first, what do you want this copybook for?"

Huo Qi smiled: "To learn to read, you must first imitate. Tingyu and Lingfeng have reached the age of enlightenment. I want to find a good copybook to teach them how to read and write. Although there are several good copybooks at home, they are not as good as Liu's. The Master’s.”

He was puzzled: "Most of the maids' jobs are menial work, so why bother to spend so much effort on teaching them how to read?"

Huo Qi raised his face, his eyes full of disapproval: "What you said is wrong. Huh, I won't tell you more. Think about what you like, and I'll trade it with you for that copybook. I won’t let you suffer a loss.”

Facing those firm and calm eyes, he couldn't say no.

From then on, he understood that Huo Qi was a person who knew pain and was warm.

She sincerely cares for anyone who can come into her eyes, and is unwilling to cause them any heartache. She protects Tingyu and Lingfeng like eyeballs, so what kind of happiness and satisfaction would it be if he became the man standing beside her?

Huo Qi at Qiu Ju's banquet burned everything in the past. But just now, the familiar Huo Qi appeared again.

She quietly defended those around her, just like before.

This made him clearly realize that Huo Qi had never changed, only her heart for him had changed.

He finally accepted this fact.

Why she changed, he couldn't figure out. And she was destined not to give him the answer. The only option is to let her disappear.

She disappeared, and the demonic barrier in his heart dissipated.

※※※

When Huo Qi returned to the wing, she did not get on the bed. She lit a lantern and sat down behind the long table.

There was a long-necked glazed porcelain vase on the table. She took out the rolled paper from it and spread it out.

This is a piece of snow-white and clear rice paper. To be more precise, it is a list, but it is not the one Huo Qi gave Feng Qing tonight.

Written on the paper were the names of all the candidates who took the Jiangyang Township examination last year. There were over a hundred people from beginning to end, including Wang Shouli, Feng Qing, Li Wencai, Fang Xu, Zhang Feng, and Ruan Donglai... The handwriting was strong and scrawled, densely packed and without any structure, like an unplayed chessboard. .

The lights flickered, and the girl's face was so white that it was almost transparent.

She held the pen as a sword, lightly dipped it in the wet red ink, and crossed out two names. One is Li Wencai and the other is Feng Qing.