box of hearts

Chapter 91
Wang Zhengting seemed to be used to it, and he didn't react violently even when he was slapped. He just covered his face and turned to look at Wang Kezhao, sincerely saying, "Father, listen to your son, that woman in the west is not easy, besides, she is the Queen Mother after all. , with the imperial seal in her hand, there must be no mistake at this juncture, she must act quickly, and if she does not reply, she will be forced. Living with her, that maid, and everyone in the Palace of Compassion and Ning."

"Report--" A servant came in like a rabbit, stood in a piece of shiny floor tiles, breathless and said: "Old, old man, uncle, Cai, Cai Xuncheng Censor Feng Master sent someone here According to the newspaper, the maid who was driven out of the temple by the Queen Mother was indeed escorted back to the palace all the way, and did not go elsewhere."

Wang Zhenghao lifted his long beard in the same posture as his father, and sneered at his younger brother Wang Zhengting: "Did you hear that? Hmph, you can think of it, but brother can't think of it? How? Cowardly as a mouse! To be so scared by a woman .”

Wang Zhengting showed doubts, but he stopped and said to Wang Chezhao: "Father, this time you must listen to—"

"Okay," Wang Chaezhao shook his hand, his palm covered with rough lines and spots was like an old peak, towering over the sky, "Your elder brother is right, let her stay outside the palace. Then, she won't need to go back to the palace anymore."

The frustrated Wang Zhengting sighed angrily, and his heart was full of uneasy premonition, as if seeing the court lady who was turned back to the palace turned around, she changed into another eunuch's clothes, put on another passing belt, and transferred to another closed carriage , and left the city through another palace gate.

In fact, every detail of his fantasy was real, except that it was not some court lady, but the unrecognizable Empress Dowager Xihe herself.

Internal supervisor Zhao Sheng drove a carriage and ran wildly on the wild road leading to the suburbs.Inside the car was his mistress, and what was driving the car was a crooked, precarious wheel of fortune.

11.
The carriage finally stopped in front of a camp that was only a hundred miles away from the imperial capital. The horses were as wet as if they had just been fished out of the water, panting loudly.Zhao Sheng on the shaft of the car wiped the sweat from his head and neck, shrugged his bulging shoulders, and jumped out of the car.

Just when Zhao Sheng walked towards the first guard he met, Qi She had already circled thousands of times in the central tent.The bad news brought by Zhenfusi turned him into a beast—a beast in a cage, surrounded by countless iron bars that kept rotating.

At this time, it was the eunuch Xiao Xinzi who entered the account and reported the matter. He could see that the master was in a bad mood, so his tone was a little timid: "My lord, Mr. Zhao Sheng from the palace is here, and he said that he is here to welcome the lord to enter the city tomorrow. Special reward."

"Zhao Sheng?" Qi She stopped abruptly, her gaze was like a torch, "Bring him in."

Xiao Xinzi brought two people in one after another, Zhao Sheng walked in front, his chest was covered with sweat, panting panting, he kowtowed on the spot, and participated in the big ceremony, "I kowtow to the emperor's uncle, the regent, and the prince is a thousand years old."

Qi She's eyes were fixed on the man behind him. In midsummer, the man was wearing a cloak and a hood, standing there like a mist.Qi She narrowed his eyes deeply, "Xiao Xinzi back down."

As soon as Xiao Xinzi withdrew, the man stretched out his hand and lifted the black veil over his face.

Qi She's eyes widened again, and she took a closer look in disbelief, "It really is——, my minister Qi She asked the Queen Mother to—"

"Third Master!" Xi He took a step forward, stretched out two hands from the eunuch's python clothes to support him, and called him again, "Brother-in-law..." She looked up at Qi She carefully, as if still There are many things as sweet as this nickname to say to him, but she just sighed, "Forget it, when are you still talking about such nonsense? Zhao Sheng, you go out too, and keep an eye on no one to come in."

Qi She first raised her hand, as if wanting to touch Xihe's jaw, but she hung in the air as if she was afraid of touching her, "How did you make this face, huh? Who is so daring?"

Looking at the other party's deep affection mixed with shock and anger, Xihe's own expression became calm and warm.How long has it been since he looked down on her so closely and affectionately?When he looked down at her like this, it was God looking down on the world, which made her knees go weak for no reason.

She pulled a smile from the corners of her dilapidated lips, "It's not important, it's just a way out. Brother-in-law, I also know, what are you going to do now?
Qi She raised her eyes to look forward, and in her eyes was a trapped beast still fighting, "I'll fight."

Xi He smiled sadly, "Fight, what are you fighting for? Just rely on the dozens of people outside you? The reason why the Wang family feared you as the regent was not because of your noble status and outstanding military exploits, but because of your military power. Now the governor of the capital Zuo Jian turned against him, and the soldiers of the five cities, Ma Si and the imperial guards are all in their hands, brother-in-law, you have nothing left, big, powerful, already, go." Salty tears welled up in her eyes, pouring into her cheeks. Add salt to the wound, "I came here to see you for the last time. Hong'er is still here, so I have to go back to the prison in the Forbidden City, but the world is so big, there is always a place for you to protect your life."

Qi She gritted her back teeth fiercely, "I'm leaving, what will the emperor do? What will you do?"

"Forgive those people who don't dare to do anything to the emperor for the time being. As for me, I still have Zhao Sheng by my side. He is a martial artist. With him around, he can keep me safe for a moment." She smiled and touched her wounds. It hurts, so with pain, I smiled, "Brother-in-law, I remember that year in the middle of winter, that evening, I deliberately tripped and fell into your arms, and you threw me on the phoenix couch. There was no love at that time. It’s not about righteousness, it’s just two poor political gamblers taking advantage of the cloud and rain to collect earth for incense and blood for alliance. I know that until today, in your opinion, the relationship between you and me is still just working together But I, I don't know when, but I have love, roots, depth, and seeds."

Xi He looked up with devastation, her beautiful color was gone, only this mournful, sincere, and sincere voice remained, "We are all smart people, none of us mention this love." 'Word. For you, it is because you have always been ruthless to me. Once the wings are full, you will be a little bit distant and retreat. I also hope that I can be normal, but I can't. I still remember the last time between you and me. Once, I slipped out of the Dalongfu Temple in disguise to find you. You were so passionate about my body, but you were indifferent to me. During these days when you left me cold, I have piled up Thousands of questions will be asked of you: because I am no longer useful? Because I bore you? Because I am old? - Shhh, I want to know, but don't answer anything, I don't want to hear Lies, and I don't want to bear the truth. Brother-in-law, I never mention the word "love" because I know it will scare you, but the current situation, if I don't say it, it will be too late for the rest of my life. Now Since I have spoken to you with my own mouth and you have heard with your own ears, I will die without regret.”

Xihe herself was shocked by her own boldness, and her tears left blood-red spots on her cheeks, like pomegranate flowers hit by rain. "Look, you are really scared by me!" She laughed, her heart throbbing with pain.Yes, he didn't love her, never loved her, that's why he was so stunned and speechless, and felt ashamed.But she didn't mind, she just wanted to keep giving, in this chaotic world full of smoldering smoke and soldiers approaching the city, while she still had a breath, she could give him all she could.

Trembling, she took out a stack of paper from her waist and put it into the man's hand, "It's not too late. Jewelry is inconvenient to play, and it's easy to be traced by people. Here is a 60 taels of silver note. The ticket is redeemed. Brother-in-law, don't joke, I have only saved this little money in the palace for so many years. I am afraid that it will be bad luck when I return to the palace tomorrow. Don't come back, take this money and fly away, hide your name, and live in peace This..." She dipped the blood and tears on her face into the silk handkerchief she carried, and then tied the yellow silk handkerchief embroidered with dragon and phoenix double happiness on Qi She's wrist, "just think of it , don’t forget that there was once such a person as me. Let’s go, brother-in-law, hurry up, and don’t come back for the rest of your life!”

In Qi She's hand was a stack of bills that were forcibly stuffed, and on his wrist was a veil that was forcibly tied, as if he had been bribed, as if he had been bound, why did he take Xi He into his arms in a daze? Inside.Her blood-stained red tears were like candle oil drop by drop, pouring hotly on his heart.He also recalled that midwinter evening, since that night, she has always been a shrewd comrade-in-arms and a seasoned concubine, but this moment lying on his chest is a foolish innocent woman, Love is burning and bright red everywhere.

At the moment when the tide ebbs and flows, Qi She has made a decision, in order not to leave this woman alone and go through fire and water, he has to show some decent responsibilities of a man.

So, among the two, when one was crying like rain, the other became colder and colder, cold and quiet.Qi She pushed away the body in her arms, touched the swollen face with her fingertips, and asked, "Xi He, do you have any seals on your body?"

Xi He blinked once, then again.In a wordless moment, she understood that this man, whom she knew so well, had a surprise for her.

12.
As the night falls, the moon rises high, and the moon hangs in the air with a hook, like a guillotine that will fall at any time.

Qinghe, not more than a dozen miles away from the capital, is the station of the Jingying outside Deshengmen. The lights and signs are scattered and the atmosphere is solemn.In the governor's camp, Zuo Jian, the military commander who holds the number one military power in the capital, was lying on a long-beard straw mat in a reclined bed, wearing only a tunic and underwear.Under the bed, there are appetizers such as bad goose gizzards, split and dried chicken breast wings, and a jug of good wine.But Zuo Jian didn't seem to have any appetite, he just tightened his face, full of worries.

(End of this chapter)