The door curtain was lifted, and a disheveled man came out, who looked like he had just woken up.

"Master Xiang, catch a cold carefully." So quickly, the housekeeper shook the mink cape and wrapped it around Chen Ruoyin under the eaves. Wrapped tightly, Chen Ruoyin stood stiffly and said slowly, "This winter is really cold enough."

The housekeeper hurriedly responded: "There is nothing left or right, so why don't you sleep for a while."

The sentence "Nothing" hit Chen Ruoyin's sore spot, he hung his eyes, and his tone immediately became cold: "Of course nothing, the emperor suspects me and investigates me now, so he has almost arrested me. What's the matter?"

The housekeeper said: "There is news from the palace that the emperor has been suffering from severe illness in the past few days, and even the early court has to be supported by the prince." Seeing Chen Ruoyin's expression relaxed, "Prince is in charge of the overall situation, Master Xiang can relax."

Chen Ruoyin snorted lightly: "Ben Xiang is very lenient, and he wants to overthrow me with this little storm. Isn't it a waste of all these years?"

He looked at the bricks and stones in the courtyard, which were destroyed by masked people on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, and replaced with new ones, which were paved with patterns of copper coins and lotus flowers. As for the two masked assassins, one was estimated to be Huo Linfeng's subordinates, and the other was probably Rong Luoyun of Bufan Palace.

The dark guard sent to Xiganling reported that Rong Luoyun had been away from the palace for many days, so there should be no mistake.

A person came in from the corner. He was not wearing an official uniform, and he was dressed like a Jianghu person. It was obvious that he had just returned from going out. Before reaching the steps, he bowed and said, "Master Xiang, Huo Linfeng's team has arrived at Xiliu Village."

Chen Ruoyin sneered: "As expected of the military background, the pace is really fast." The phoenix eyes were half-closed, covering a small piece of shrewdness, "Where's Azatai?"

The other party replied: "Azatai and Huo Linfeng's personal companions rode the carriage all the way and could not start."

Following in person, it must be Rong Luoyun, after listening to it, Chen Ruoyin was upset, and waved his hand away. The physical evidence has been presented, and now the witnesses are getting closer and closer. The former can be said to be forged, and the latter, there is no way to silence it.

Chen Ruoyin was so tired that he turned around and walked into the room, staggering and asking the housekeeper to help him. The housekeeper persuaded: "Master, don't worry too much, just sleep again."

Lifting the curtain and entering the room, Chen Ruoyin said bitterly, "What do you sleep for, that old man Huo Zhao entered my dream and disturbed my peace!"

The curtain fell slowly, and the scolding inside was indistinguishable.

Thirty miles away from Chang'an City, in Xiliuzhuang, the Xiao Guards guarded the inn, isolating all idlers from entering and leaving. Inside the inn, the Dingbei Army team had just finished eating and was resting.

There was a pot of brewed tea on the table, Huo Linfeng poured two cups and glanced at the door.

Rong Luoyun raised another cup and asked, "It's only thirty miles away from Chang'an, so why take a break?"

Huo Linfeng said: "No hurry, just arrive before dusk."

As soon as the last sentence fell, Zhang Weiren came in from the door, took off his hat, and walked to the table. He left Saibei two days ahead of schedule, walked fast alone, and had already checked out the city of Chang'an.

Huo Linfeng poured the third cup of tea: "Sit down and talk."

"General Xie." Zhang Weiren took a seat and drank the cup to moisten his throat. "General, everything in Chang'an City is as usual. There are no suspicious people in inns, liquor stores, brothels and other places."

Previously, Chen Ruoyin recruited Jianghu people to be in Saibei City, and this investigation was to prevent that fellow from repeating his old tricks. Zhang Weiren said again: "Chen Ruoyin stayed in the Prime Minister's mansion recently and never went out. As for the palace wall, the emperor's health is not good..."

Huo Linfeng laughed: "You can even explore the palace?"

Zhang Weiren said: "The general has promoted me, but I just heard that many famous doctors in the city were invited into the palace, so I guessed from this."

Inviting a famous doctor from outside the palace to enter the palace shows that the imperial doctor in the palace is helpless, and it can be seen that the emperor is seriously ill. Huo Linfeng and Rong Luoyun looked at each other, didn't say a word, and drank a cup of tea each.

After a long while, Huo Linfeng asked, "How is Prince Rui?"

Rong Luoyun lowered his eyes, as if it had nothing to do with him, but his ears were pricked up, and his heart began to feel empty again. Zhang Weiren reported: "Xu is because the general wants to stay temporarily, Prince Rui's mansion has been strengthened, and there are guards patrolling every moment."

As expected, Huo Linfeng asked again, "Does Prince Rui have any contacts with others?"

Zhang Weiren replied: "Prince Rui acted meticulously, and his subordinates did not detect him."

When things were revealed one by one, Zhang Weiren left in a hurry, not following the Dingbei Army team. Huo Linfeng and Rong Luoyun set off a little later and left Xiliu Village.

In the carriage, Rong Luoyun was guarding Azate, and the driver Qiji was originally a soldier. He was very brave in the battle of the Blue Lake, and he was rewarded by Huo Linfeng and promoted to Qiji. Coincidentally, the man's name is Tian Che, and he lives in Yancuogang. Rong Luoyun took a break at his house when he went to Saibei, and Mrs. Tian is his mother.

This way, the Dingbei Army has a total of thirty elite soldiers, and now it is close to Chang'an.

When the sun was about to set, they arrived in Chang'an in a mighty manner.

The last time came, it was father and son walking together, but now they are separated by yin and yang, Huo Linfeng's expression seemed lonely, and in just a moment, when the horse's hoof stepped into the city gate, the emotions in his eyes were completely hidden.

There were many people gathered on the side of the road, watching curiously and longingly, and couldn't help but whisper.

"That's General Huo, the second son of the Duke of Dingbei, who is really majestic."

"Look at the Dingbei Army, I heard that a hundred Xiaowei can't beat a Dingbei Army, is it true?"

"Who is in the carriage, is it the general's wife?"

...

Sitting in the car park, Rong Luoyun could hear clearly, Mrs. General, the people of Chang'an used to know Hu Yan, he gently pushed the window a little, peeped in the dark, and recognized this long street.

At the end of the street, a team of guards was waiting, the personal soldiers of Prince Rui's mansion.

Turning around, the street was cleared, and there were no noisy onlookers. Huo Linfeng looked at the door of Prince Rui's mansion from a distance, and saw a man standing with his hands behind his back. The prince was in uniform, and it was Prince Rui Meng Tingyuan.

When the sunset was at its brightest, when the carriages and horses stopped, Huo Linfeng jumped off the horse's back and faced the third prince who was coming down the stairs. For the courtier, he took the lead in clasping his fists and salute: "I have to wait for Prince Rui for a long time, please forgive me."

Meng Tingyuan smiled: "General Huo is very polite, it's been a long journey all the way, just enter the house and settle down." He said, his eyes lingering in the Dingbei Army team, the thirty elite soldiers were all cast in copper and iron, and they had a face that he didn't know. of.

Huo Linfeng noticed and asked, "Who is Prince Rui looking for?"

Meng Tingyuan was startled: "Nothing... Why don't you see Azate?"

Huo Linfeng said, "In the carriage." After speaking, he walked towards the carriage and opened the wooden door of the carriage. Tian Che dragged Azatai down and escorted him to Meng Tingyuan.

This is a very important person. Meng Tingyuan instructed: "I will be locked in the mansion first, and I will take good care of him."

When the personal soldiers got Azate in, Meng Tingyuan looked at the carriage, like a red glow, Rong Luoyun came out of the carriage and ran all the way, tired but unable to cover his demeanor, jumped from the carriage with Huo Linfeng's hand.

Huo Linfeng clenched his hands calmly, and said calmly, "Prince Rui is looking for you."

Rong Luoyun pursed his lips, unable to do so, he bravely walked forward with the other party, and met Meng Tingyuan again in front of everyone's eyes when they were three or four steps apart. With just one glance, he lowered his eyes and wrote - "I'm not familiar with this person".

Meng Tingyuan was silent for a moment and said, "Come in quickly, General Huo, please."

Huo Linfeng made a "please" gesture and followed Meng Tingyuan up the steps into the house, Rong Luoyun followed behind him, perhaps to harass him, but also to coax him, stepping on the soles of his boots repeatedly.

When they went to a garden, the door of the hall was open, and Yishui'er's maid nodded and saluted. When they entered the hall, the door was closed, and no one was left to wait on them. Meng Tingyuan took the main seat, Huo Linfeng and Rong Luoyun sat down in the armchairs on one side, the tea was poured, and it was steaming hot.

"Let's warm up first." Meng Tingyuan said, "This winter is quite cold, and the people of Chang'an City don't go out very much. When I heard that General Huo was coming, they rushed to the street to see the heroic appearance."

This is a function word for greetings, but Huo Linfeng did not intend to be polite, saying: "Blessed are the people of Chang'an, unlike Saibei, where frost and snow are nothing, and they have to endure war and displacement."

Meng Tingyuan sighed: "It's just that Chen Ruo is treacherous and set up an ambush in Saibei City, implicated in the people." His eyes wandered, and he stopped on Rongluo Yuncha's hand, "I still stumble on the troops, otherwise the Marquis of Dingbei may be... "

Seemingly unable to bear to finish speaking, he changed his tune and said, "This king should not mention the general's sadness, the general should not blame him."

Huo Linfeng smiled lightly: "Prince Rui's words are serious."

The two of them came and went to talk to each other, nothing more than surrounding the fierce battle not long ago. During this period, Rong Luoyun listened quietly and never made a sound. When the setting sun had set, and it was getting dark, the housekeeper announced that dinner was ready.

Meng Tingyuan stood up: "This king is taking care of General Huo, let's have a few drinks."

Huo Linfeng naturally agreed, and went out, pushing the door and seeing a dark night, the lights under the corridor were not too bright, Meng Tingyuan turned his face and stared at Rong Luoyun's feet, and said with concern: "Be careful of the threshold, don't stumble upon it. ."

Rong Luoyun made an inaudible "um", but he didn't know that Huo Linfeng held the hand beside him, and firmly helped him to take that step. He released it quietly, his palms were still warm, clenched into fists, and he was reluctant to let go of the warm energy.

Going to the warm pavilion where the meal was served, as soon as he entered the room, Rong Luoyun immediately felt familiar. He sat down at the table, with embossed ling brocade on the table, sashes hanging on the edge, and the round belly golden pot that held wine between the delicacies... This is the room where he talked to Meng Tingyuan that night when he visited Prince Rui's mansion.

The huge palace, why choose this place to entertain?

As soon as he raised his eyes, Rong Luoyun met Meng Tingyuan's gaze, he averted his eyes and stared at the glowing porcelain plate in front of him.

Huo Linfeng was cleaning his hands with a hot towel. He didn't know the reason, but he felt that this warm pavilion was not spacious. When the banquet opened, the maid filled the wine, and he took up the wine cup and performed his duty as a courtier: "King Rui, I respect you."

Meng Tingyuan finished his drink, waved away the servant girl who was serving, and refilled the wine cup himself. "There is no one else at the moment, let's talk loosely." He said, "After all, we have been in contact with each other for a long time."

This "each other" alludes to him and Bufan Palace, Bufan Palace and the General's Mansion. There is no explicit statement about the alliance.

Huo Linfeng listened, Yu Guangning stood at Rong Luoyun beside him, and said, "The prince has a lot of contacts with the second palace master, I can only be regarded as an outsider."

Meng Tingyuan's face was calm, and he couldn't help hesitating in his heart, because Huo Linfeng's words contained resignation. He remembered that before Rong Luoyun came to look for him, he said frankly that he and Huo Linfeng were friends of life and death.

But with the same sentence, Meng Tingyuan sounded cold, but Rong Luoyun heard a sour taste. He thought, Huo Linfeng was beating him. He thought that when he interacted with Prince Rui, carrier pigeons were kept in several cages.

He took a piece of meatball and ate it in a foolish way, intending to make it through this time. Unexpectedly, a large prawn was caught on the plate. Looking down the tip of the chopsticks, there is a jade finger, clothes with dark lines, and then Meng Tingyuan's face.

Meng Tingyuan thought that Huo Linfeng didn't know Rong Luoyun's identity, so he couldn't call his real name "Tang Heng", so he said, "Xiao Rong, try this shrimp if it's cooked to your taste."

Huo Linfeng frowned slightly, didn't say a word, stretched out his hand and grabbed one.

Meng Tingyuan looked at it, thinking that it was the same shrimp, do you want to compete with him? On a first-come-first-served basis, you should also eat what he gave first.

Huo Linfeng, however, put the shrimp in his plate, slammed his chopsticks, peeled off the shell of the shrimp, and then put the clean shrimp to Rong Luoyun. He didn't put it on the porcelain plate, but put it directly into Rong Luoyun's bowl.

"Try it early." The cloth towel was placed, but Huo Linfeng took out a gray handkerchief from his arms to clean his hands, slowly enough for Prince Rui to see the ginkgo tree on the handkerchief.

In the past, there were many ginkgo trees planted in the Tang Mansion. After the family was destroyed, there would naturally be something belonging to Toth. Meng Tingyuan saw it in his eyes and naturally guessed who sent the handkerchief.

Rong Luoyun moved his chopsticks, ate a shrimp given by Huo Linfeng, reached for a piece of fish, and put it into Huo Linfeng's bowl as a courtesy. Putting it down is not enough, he stretched out his left hand and pinched out a small thorn, and on his tail finger, there was a delicate white jade ring.

Meng Tingyuan couldn't show his expression: "Xiao Rong, this is not the ring I gave you."

Huo Linfeng said, "I sent it."

The Nuan Pavilion fell into a dead silence, Rong Luoyun curled up his hands and put down the low sash, and suddenly, Huo Linfeng held him under the table, the palm lines were close to each other, and they fit perfectly.

"My lord," Huo Linfeng said, "it's better not to call him 'Xiao Rong'. If someone knew that he was Rong Luoyun, wouldn't it make people suspect that you colluded with the Jianghu faction?"

This is reasonable, Meng Tingyuan couldn't say "no".

Huo Linfeng said again: "It's not appropriate to be called "Xiaoheng". If it is known that he is an orphan of Tang Zhen, wouldn't it be more troublesome?"

Meng Tingyuan's body trembled slightly and stared at each other with wide eyes. He didn't expect that Huo Linfeng already knew Rong Luoyun's identity. was stunned, heart was sour, and didn't know what to say.

Rong Luoyun held back for a long time, then replied, "I'm full."

Meng Tingyuan came back to his senses: "General Huo, the Zheyuan in the mansion is cleaned up, you can rest there." Now that he has identified his identity, although he is flustered, he adds some confidence, "Xiaoheng... How do you live in the main garden? Shall we chat?"

Rong Luoyun thought to himself, don't hurt me...

He refused: "It's fine for me to live in Zheyuan too. The old things have been dusty for many years, so it's inconvenient to talk about it again."

Having said this, Meng Tingyuan smiled bitterly, unable to hold back his face any longer, Huo Linfeng and Rong Luoyun got up to say goodbye, led by the housekeeper, and walked out of the warm pavilion to Zheyuan.

The lights were dim and the wine was smoky, Rong Luoyun tugged Huo Linfeng's sleeves in secret.

As he expected... it's not very good.

The author has something to say: Meng: Neither Xiaorong nor Xiaoheng can be called, so what should I call him?

Huo: Big brother.

Early the next morning, Meng saw Xiaorong and asked: Brother, did you sleep well last night?