Cover The Sky With One Hand, Beat The Ground With The Other Chapter 56: (complete)

The room was completely silent, and the two were silent for a long time.

Zhao Yanran slowly rolled over and got out of bed, knelt in front of me, "Princess, can't you really let my brother die? These days, I always feel that he is about to think of something, just give him more time. , maybe, he will be able to find his way back?" Seeing that I didn't answer, she added: "Do you really have the heart to kill everything before Xu Fang returns?"

I was silent for a long time, picked up the letter rafts scattered on the ground one by one, packed them, and looked at her, "Yan Ran, I can't bear it. On that day, I knew that the concubine was acting in a false way, if it wasn't for my father who woke up , I can't change anything with my own power, and now, let alone other people, even if it's me, if he doesn't have the protection of the holy family one day, I don't know how many days he can live a peaceful life..."

Zhao Yanran frowned, maybe she didn't understand what I was saying at all, I stroked the letter, the words were stuck in my throat, but it was like a lifetime, "But...you said it well, he has both Arrested because of me, I should always repay his friendship..."

There are always some things in this world. You shouldn't ask whether you should do it or not, but you should ask yourself whether you should do it or not.

Seeing Zhao Yanran's happy face, I said, "But I have one condition."

She was startled.

I said: "I will let Nie Ran leave Qingzhou. As for whether he can reunite with Nie Guang safely, everything can only be left to fate. As for you, you have to come back to Beijing with me, and you can no longer follow him on the road. ."

Zhao Yanran hesitated, and I said, "If you can't agree to my terms, I can't let Nie Ran go."

She held back her tears and nodded slightly.

The environment of Qingzhou prison is no better than that of the capital. Not only is the light dim, cold and desolate, you can even smell a musty smell when you pass through the dark corridors.

I walked around the innermost room with the jailer, stopped in front of the cell where Nie Ran was being held, and ordered someone to unlock it.

The prefect behind him said tremblingly: "Is this really going to be escorted back to Beijing immediately? Why don't it be safer to wait until the people from the military camp brought by Lord Song will be on the road?"

I squinted at him and said with a sneer, "Could it be that adults can't trust this palace?"

"The lower ministers dare not..."

"This is the emperor's decree. The traitor and gang are already on their way to save people. It's a long night, and they must leave early. This palace has informed Lord Song that he will respond outside, so you don't have to worry about it."

The prefect said yes and dared not ask again.

I looked in under the firelight. Nie Ran was lying on the stone bed weakly due to disintegrated cartilage. His chest and right leg were wounded by arrows, and the blood was still oozing out. .

The iron chain of the gate clattered, and when he heard the movement, he slowly raised his head and saw that I was standing in front of him, with a slight surprise in his eyes. I turned my head expressionlessly and signaled to the jailer to get him out of the way, not to waste time.

By the time we got out of the prison, the sky in the east had turned blue, the wind rustled the woods, and it was about to dawn.

The prefect looked left and right, and now there was no one except the jailer and my guards. He was very disturbed and asked me why I didn't see Master Song. I was also puzzled, and only said: "Maybe it was the time when he missed his appointment with Ben Gong, the post house is not far from here, why don't you go back to the yamen quickly, and order someone to contact Lord Song quickly, maybe he has already I'm on my way..."

The prefect nodded again and again, turned around and walked a few steps, then hesitantly turned his head back, obviously still not at ease, I smiled slightly and said, "These guards in this palace are all masters at the upper level of martial arts, so it is unlikely that even one of them is weak. Disciples can't see it."

The prefect calmed down after hearing this. When he was far away, my guards knocked out the two guards neatly, took off the key and released the shackles that locked Nie Ran.

Under the moonlight, Nie Ran's eyes remained the same, I walked up to him and said calmly, "Go, I think your comrades have already been ambushed in Qingzhou City, so you naturally have a way to call someone to see you away. "

He caressed the wound on his chest, cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and asked me hoarsely: "Why?"

I said: "Yanran asked me to save you, she said if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be in this situation."

There is an unidentified light in his eyes, "You, you should know what the consequences of the tiger returning to the mountain will be..."

I said: "I know."

"Then you..."

I said: "I don't like to owe people, you saved me, I'll pay you back once, that's all. Let's go."

He was about to say something when someone suddenly said, "I'm afraid he won't be able to leave if he wants to!"

I was stunned, and a cluster of firelights rose up. In an instant, layers of soldiers poured out from all directions to surround us. Song Langsheng slowly stepped out from the crowd, and the long sword in his hand flashed slightly under the light and shadow. He looked at Nie Ran and said, "If the prefect hadn't ordered someone to inform him in advance, he would have let you escape from Qingzhou..."

I glanced at the Qingzhou prefect who was shrunk behind Song Langsheng, and was just annoyed at my negligence, so I heard Song Langsheng's order: "come here!"

"Wait!"

I raised my hand, took a few steps forward, and approached Song Langsheng, "Let him go."

Song Langsheng's expression is not clear in the dim light, I can feel his deep anger, "Do you know what you are doing now..."

Of course I know what I'm doing.

How can I explain this to you?

I clenched my fists and said, "You know, he saved my life..."

Song Langsheng's eyes had a light that was even colder than the ice, "The war is imminent, his life and death are related to the safety of all people. If you don't save you, you can ignore the country's laws and let him go. If he leaves and returns. In the enemy camp, in front of the emperor, who can bear it!"

I said: "I will bear all the guilt in front of the father!"

Song Langsheng's face suddenly became extremely ugly. Instead of being angry, he laughed, took a step back, and said, "Arrest the traitorous thief and bring him to justice!"

The soldiers were about to step forward when they got the order, and I said: "Who dares!"

Seeing that the soldiers were shaken, I said, "You have also heard about Ben Gong's wrists. Whoever dares to act in front of Ben Gong today, don't blame Ben Gong for not caring about his feelings!"

After all, Song Langsheng took office as a new official, and he was an official in Dali Temple before, but now the father and emperor have been appointed to him as soon as he woke up. It is inevitable that his prestige has not been established. The most important thing is that these soldiers in the Chinese military camp are afraid of me. As the guardian of the country, under the power of the prime minister, they looked at each other, and no one dared to be the first person to offend me.

I said this just to let everyone see that it was my fault to let Nie Ran go, and it had nothing to do with the concubine, but I didn't expect this threat to make him even more angry, he raised his sword and sneered: "I want to see, today I will rectify this traitor on the spot, what will the princess do to me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his sword went with the momentum of the mountains and rain. I knew that Nie Ran at the moment was not his opponent at all. In front of him, intending to block the blow. Song Langsheng didn't expect it, so he quickly retracted the sword, but the sharp blade had already cut through my palm, and blood dripped down the ground between my fingers. "You can't kill him."

Song Langsheng looked down at my hand, no longer advancing one point, and did not dare to withdraw, for fear that the blade would rub the wound deeper, his eyes fainted with grief and anger, and there was disappointment in his voice Questioning: "You are for him..."

The way he looked at me made me very sad. After so long, I finally waited for peace and joy, and it was about to be destroyed by my hand in an instant. I didn't know how to explain it. I opened and closed my lips a few times before saying: " Concubine, I beg you, let him go, if he dies here, I am afraid that I will not feel at ease in this life."

A few rays of light rose from the eastern sky, but they failed to add a trace of blood to Song Langsheng's pale face. After a long stalemate, he suddenly let out a hoarse smile, "Okay, the princess treats him like this. Love, I will fulfill you..."

My heart froze, he said coldly, "Let go!"

I let go of my trembling hand, and then I felt the pain in my palm and five fingers. He abandoned his sword and turned around, ordering everyone to leave with him without looking back.

Nie Ran staggered and stepped forward to check my injury. I removed my hand and said, "Don't worry. It's not suitable to stay here for a long time. Before Song Langsheng changes his mind, hurry up and leave." After saying this, I stepped forward, he suddenly grabbed my arm from behind and said slowly, "You can't do this for Yanran's few words..."

He asks: "You...have anything else to say to me?"

Xu Fang's letter is still lying in the chest pocket, Zhao Yanran's words "Xu Fang never disappeared, he has always lived in Nie Ran's heart" still lingering in my ears, I thought I would have many I wanted to say something to him, but when he was right in front of me, I didn't know what else to say.

That year, the promise made under the moonlight was warm and warm, followed by peace, wherever the wind blows is my direction.

Now, my heart has long been filled by another person, Xu Fang is back, but the wind is gone.

I am inexplicably thankful that he has not recovered Xu Fang's memory. Such a parting is not too cruel to him and to me.

I closed my eyes and said, "Nie Ran, take care all the way, he will meet with the soldiers, so you don't need to be merciful."

After saying that, I broke free of him and strode in the direction of Song Langsheng's departure.

Xu Fang, this is the last thing I can do for you.

From now on, no goodbye.

——————————————— Second update! ! ! —————————————————————

On the way back to Beijing, Song Langsheng didn't say a word to me.

I tried to talk to him on my own initiative, but he didn't even respond, he didn't even glance at me.

I know he's really angry. When I went back that night, I panted and indicated that my hands were about to be abolished and the blood was about to drain. He turned a deaf ear and set off on his own, the Royal Horse's Life Brigade. In the end, I had to go to the military doctor myself to get the medicine. heartache.

Of course I can't say I did the right thing, that's what I want to do after all, saying goodbye to the past, letting go of the entanglement is for a fresh start, but I didn't get his understanding. Very aggrieved.

Another unhappy person along the way is Zhao Yanran.

We both sat in the same carriage, each sighing with lamentation, who can understand the suffering of the other.

She said, "Princess, sometimes, I really can't see the road ahead, and I can't see where I should go."

I said: "Yes."

She asked me, "Can I still meet someone who likes me and can put my heart into it?"

I said, "I don't know."

Yan Ran squinted at me, "At this time, shouldn't you comfort me and say 'Yes'?"

I smiled slightly, "Some things are not something we can have if we want to believe, but if we don't want to believe, we will get nothing."

She nodded thoughtfully and looked at me again, "Are you talking about me, or yourself?"

I was stunned for a while before I came back to my senses and asked her, "What did you ask me just now?"

She: "..."

Three days later, we returned to the capital, and as soon as we landed, we received a summons from our father to enter the temple.

Manchu civil and military knelt on top of the golden hall, and did not dare to go out. When we entered the palace, we only knew that Nie Guang, the Marquis of Xiayang killed Guiyang Dusi, led his troops to capture Huguang at night, and called the former Zhou emperor's direct relative The bloodline still exists in the world, and under the name of "Recovering the Great Zhou Dynasty", he rebelled.

What made the father even more furious was that the traitor who had already been captured allowed him to escape again, so Nie Guang was unscrupulous and caught such a surprise.

Royal father is like a huge and old eagle, looking down at the overwhelming officials.

As soon as Song Langsheng entered the hall, he knelt down and accepted the crime. It was because he was not good at guarding on the way back that Nie Ran was rescued and left.

I was shocked. I didn't expect the concubine to rush ahead of me to take the blame. Looking at the face of the father, I was afraid that he would take anger on Song Langsheng, so I hurriedly knelt down beside him and said: "Father, in fact, everything depends on the concubine. It doesn't matter, it's..."

As soon as my waist hurt, Song Langsheng pinched me without leaving a trace, and whispered viciously in my ear: "Tell me a little longer, and ignore you again."

I stayed for a while, not knowing how to take the words, Song Langsheng had already kowtowed to the ground, telling the whole story of the crime without any flaws, and took all the blame alone.

I stared blankly at him, even though he had a thousand unwillingness in his heart, I said he would let him go, but he let go; even though he was annoyed at me and refused to give me a good look, in the end he was still afraid that I would suffer harm.

There was a burst of sourness in my nose. I kowtowed heavily, but I could only say that there were so many people who betrayed the party, and I had nothing to stop me.

At this time, Zhao Gengnian also knelt down and begged for mercy. When he knelt down, the civil and military officials of the whole court also knelt down most of the time. In the end, it was embarrassing for everyone else to stand up. Kneel down with the crowd.

It can be seen that the royal father did not want to commit the crime to the concubine. After all, he was the person he used heavily. Besides, when several armies went to hunt down Nie Ran, only Song Langsheng succeeded. Since the civil and military officials all pleaded for mercy, He also went down the steps and sighed that he would be punished with thirty military sticks according to the military law, which was considered a light punishment.

I thought the matter was over, but I didn't think my father had just said the first half of the sentence, and I didn't have time to relax. The second half of the sentence mentioned Su Wei, the capital of the army who sent troops to attack the traitors, and Huo Huo, the commander of the military department. Chuan was the general to conquer the south, leading an army of 300,000 troops, with the five army battalions, the three thousand battalions and the Shenji battalion as the main force.

As soon as the father's voice fell, everyone took a deep breath. Even if Song Langsheng had made great contributions in the fight against the rebellion in the capital, he had never fought a real battle and had no experience in leading troops. What about the direct seal to be a teacher?

I saw that the ministers were quite critical, and asked in a deep voice, "Fangcai, who told me that Song Qing was a rare talent, and who told me that Song Qing was familiar with the enemy's situation and should be reserved for my use. ?"

Everyone was speechless. It turned out that the father and emperor went around in such a big circle to set a trap for all the ministers. They only spoke for Song Langsheng a moment ago, so how could they overthrow the next moment? Spear attacking one's own shield?

The big picture has been decided, no need to go into details.

Because of the critical situation of the battle, it could not be delayed. The emperor ordered the generals to order the troops, prepare the military supplies, and set off immediately in two days.

I'm in a cold sweat.

After the 30th army sticks, the skin will be ripped apart. Even the most elite soldiers will be bedridden for at least ten days. After two days, how will he go on an expedition on horseback?

While hesitating in his heart, Song Langsheng respectfully kowtowed: "The minister leads the order."

After retreating from the imperial court, Song Langsheng was taken away and punished. I was anxious and wanted to go with me, but my father stopped him and said that he had something to talk to me alone.

As soon as I entered the imperial study, I knelt down and said, "I beg your father to be merciful. If you really want your concubine to go out on an expedition, you will be tortured by this stick, as if you were going to kill him half of your life on the battlefield."

Royal father stroked his beard and said: "You really think I don't know what happened to you in Qingzhou? If you didn't insist on letting Nie Ran go, why would your concubine get involved here?"

My heart is terrified, it seems that nothing can escape the eyes of the father, "The father knows the truth, so he will punish the son, the son does not have to go into battle to kill the enemy, the thirty military sticks are taken by the son. "

Royal father shook his head and sighed: "Even if you hindered him, he is ultimately to blame. Since the concubine has the heart to take the blame for you, I can only fulfill him, otherwise how can I explain to the officials..."

"Father..."

"No need to say more," the father said, "Xiangyi, this time, you are really too confused. If I punish you, I am afraid that you will feel more at ease after receiving the punishment. Only then will you know how much disaster you have committed..."

My throat tightened and I bit my lip involuntarily.

Actually, letting Nie Ran go is a gamble for me. Since Nie Guang's rebellion is inevitable, no matter whether Nie Ran is there or not, it is impossible to stop the war - Nie Guang is cruel and cunning, but it is Nie Guang However, there are good thoughts in his heart, and Nie Guang obeys Nie Ran. For us, letting him go is not necessarily a bad thing.

How can I explain these words to my father?

As soon as I returned to the Princess Mansion, I recruited the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital early and asked them to accompany me to wait for the concubine.

I don't know why it took a whole half a day to punish the 30 army sticks, but when the soldiers in the barracks brought Song Langsheng back, the parts of his legs above the knees were bloody, even the clothes. Fragments were smashed into the flesh.

When I saw the scars on his body, I felt distressed and regretful. I couldn't hold back the tears for a while and rushed forward to help him, "The concubine..."

He said helplessly with his pale face: "You invited so many imperial physicians to come to our house, I don't know, you thought I was dying from a terminal illness soon..." Seeing me still crying, He rudely pressed my eyes with his sleeve, but turned his head to the imperial physicians, "Princess is making a fool of yourself, I am making you laugh..."

How dare those imperial physicians say anything, they hurriedly smiled and said, "Master Song is about to go on an expedition, and this old man will definitely use the best medicine to make him heal quickly..."

Although Song Langsheng is extremely repulsive of a group of old men gathered around to look at his buttocks, but after all, the visitors are guests, and he can't drive them away, so he has to close his eyes and cover his head under the quilt. Say a word or two of nonsense: "It's almost done, I don't think I'm in pain anymore."

After the imperial physicians applied the medicine for him, they instructed me: "This medicine should be changed every two hours. I wonder if the people in the princess' house will change the medicine? Should the old man stay for the concubine... …”

"No need," said the concubine, who was hiding under the quilt. "There are many talented people in the princess' mansion, so please take your time."

The old doctors smiled embarrassedly when they heard the words, and hurriedly left with the medicine box. I called the attendants to go out to see them off. For a while, only me and the concubine were left in the room.

Song Langsheng lay motionless on the bed without saying a word.

I tiptoed to the door and went back to the couch anxiously. I tried to lift the quilt he used to cover his head, but I couldn't pull it. I know that he is still angry, and he should not want to talk to me at this time. If it was normal, I would leave him alone, but when I think that he will go to the battlefield in two days, I don't know what this battle will be. It's time to stop, we won't see each other for a long, long time, and now I'm willing to leave him for a cent.

I sat quietly beside him, didn't speak, didn't make a sound, and I don't know how long it took, the person in the bed suddenly said, "Who allowed you to cry for so long?"

I stayed for a while, ahh, "You, how do you know... I'm crying?"

He snorted softly and stopped talking to me.

I wiped my tears and said softly, "It's all because of me that you got a military stick..."

He snorted again, "Who is mad at you for this?"

I was stunned, and I immediately understood what he meant. He was still angry with me for doing Nie Ran's affairs privately. I said, "I...I let him go, really...just to pay back the life-saving he gave me. Well..."

Seeing that he didn't answer, I said, "I went to Qingzhou because I wanted to take Yanran with me, not to save Nie Ran... Later, Yanran told me that Nie Ran had done many things for me that I didn't know about. , so..."

"So, you are so grateful," Song Langsheng said in a sullen voice, "You have a secret love, and you have to save him even if you die."

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, "If I had a secret affection for him, I would go away with him, and why would I keep pestering you?"

I bent down, approached him, imitated him to lie beside him, and whispered, "When I thought Nie Ran was going to cheat on me, I even had the heart to die. Later, you found me, When I came back to you, at that moment, I felt that even if the sky fell, I would not be afraid anymore... Song Langsheng, my heart has already been filled with you, how could I have room for other people? Yes, I am I liked Xu Fang. Ever since Nie Ran appeared, I have been avoiding him. I don't even know what I am avoiding. It was not until I learned the truth from Yanran that I realized that what she said was not something I never thought of. , I escaped because I already had you in my heart, even if I didn't remember who my big brother was at that time, but I fell in love with you, and I would never be able to respond to Xu Fang's love... So, I I'm so insistent on saving him, I don't want to make myself feel guilty and indebted to him all the time, I want to let Xu Fang go completely... Do you understand?"

He still said nothing.

I looked at the concubine wrapped like a zongzi, and sighed softly. I was about to go out and call someone to prepare a meal when a hand suddenly stretched out from the quilt and grabbed my wrist, "Where are you going?"

I waited for a long time before I recovered, "I... see you ignore me..."

"Who ignored you?" He said angrily: "You try to have the strength to speak after being beaten..."

"...Then, I'll find someone to change your medicine?"

He held my hand tighter, "Do you want the maid to see me?"

"That's right," I said with a promise, "I can't let the doctor in the house take a look..."

He said, "What's the difference between men and women these days?"

Me: "..."

He sticks out half of his head from the bed, revealing good-looking eyes, "I don't want to be seen by anyone other than you...that place..."

I nodded, "That place...you mean butt?"

He glared at me, his face flushed into persimmons, and he got back into the quilt again, but he didn't let go, "I'll rest, lie down with me, and don't go anywhere."

"...But, I'll catch a cold if I don't cover the quilt..."

"Aren't you going to get in?"

"...oh..."

"What are you laughing at?"

"...no..."

Two days passed so quickly.

On the day of the expedition, Song Lang was born very early, before dawn, he had already put on his armor and bundled up his luggage.

I sat by the bed and stared at him silently. The faint light from the sky outside the window fell silently and swept him. I never thought that the prince-in-law, who was always as elegant as the breeze, would have such a heroic appearance.

Song Lang was afraid that I would catch a cold, so he put on a robe for me. Seeing my expression, he said, "You have nothing to say to me?"

"I think, needless to say, you know it."

"Huh?"

"For me, the most important thing is your peace," I hugged him gently. "For you, the most important thing is to be worthy of your conscience."

Song Langsheng stroked my head. Suddenly, he put something even around my neck. When I looked down, it was a white jade pendant. It is carved with a flying bird circling in front of the Tanghua, which is vivid and lifelike.

He said: "The eldest brother once promised the little sister to draw a fan for her, but he was unable to send it out for so many years. In the end, the domineering and unreasonable Her Royal Highness tore the fan..."

He lowered his waist and frowned, "What you say must always be fulfilled. You don't cherish things so much, how dare I give you something made of paper again. Now I'm giving you a good fan, don't let it go. If you're not happy, you smash it."

I held the jade fan carefully and couldn't hold back my smile, "You carved this? When did you carve it? Ah, you asked me to wait for you ten days ago, did you just give me this?"

Song Langsheng smiled and said nothing.

Seeing his smile, I asked in a daze: "Aren't you mad at me?"

He nodded and said, "Unless, if you can stand in front of me like you are now when I come back, maybe I'll lose my temper."

I sniffled, holding myself back from crying, "Mmmm, I'll try to eat less, don't make myself too round."

He: "..."

When the army set off, I stood on the tower and looked into the distance, quietly looking at one of the thousands of troops. He turned his head back, smiled, and his eyes were like stars.

The morning sun rises, the sound of horses' hooves drifts away, and the flags flying high become more and more blurred, until the peace between heaven and earth is restored again.

——(End of this chapter)