A black shadow cut through the dawn and landed on the porch. It knocked hurriedly close to the door of the house, and the door creaked open from the inside. The butler at the night watch was sleepy and asked impatiently, "It's still dark, why are you in such a hurry?"

The guard who knocked on the door said, "The boss handed out the news that the emperor died."

The housekeeper woke up immediately, shivered, turned and walked into the bedroom. Before reaching the door, he saw that the door was pushed open first. Chen Ruoyin stood in the room with her hair disheveled.

He slept unsettled, and when he heard the movement, he got up, drooping his eyelids and said, "Are you sure?"

The housekeeper lowered his head: "Master Xiang, the emperor has passed away."

The one who delivered the news was the boss of Tuanhun Jiumang, Chen Yi, who led troops to guard the palace gate in the palace, which was arranged by the previous prince when he changed staff. Chen Ruoyin listened, as if he didn't hear clearly: "What did you just say?"

The housekeeper repeated: "Master Xiang, the emperor Yin Shi died in an instant."

Chen Ruoyin dragged out a long "Oh", finally felt the cold, shrank his shoulders and shivered, he muttered, the emperor died, muttering and returning to the room, staggering, as if stepping on unevenness on the mountain road.

"Master Xiang?" the butler called. Chen Ruoyin ignored her, as if she was being stunned, the housekeeper hurriedly followed, preparing hot water towel, and wearing an official hat, just like every morning in the past.

Suddenly, the birds chirped outside the window, like a mourning.

Chen Ruoyin shook violently, woke up, and murmured: "The emperor is dying, how can the truth not show up." He gradually laughed, and then he was really happy, "The truth is going to the palace to see off the emperor."

After washing and dressing, Chen Ruo swayed the wide sleeves of the court uniform and stroked the white crane embroidered on the horizontal side with his palm, and said, "Your Majesty, you are going west with the crane, it's really time to go."

He walked out of the big house with awe-inspiring awe, it was already dawn, the morning sun was full of yellow, and he looked up for the first time these days. The dark guard waited and reported: "Foster father, the carriage is ready, you can go."

Chen Ruoyin went down the stairs, stepped on the bricks and stones with patterns of copper coins and lotus patterns in the courtyard, and said to himself: "The combination of copper coins and lotus flowers means money and flowers. behind."

After passing through several halls and walking to the gate of the mansion, Chen Ruoyin strode over the threshold. The extravagant carriage was waiting there, and a group of entourages were also extremely splendid, with a compelling aura.

Chen Ruoyin stepped on the stool and got into the car, sat in the car, and opened the small window to see the scenery along the street. The people did not know about the national mourning, and as usual, they were busy making plans for the day.

The two ruts passed by, and the hanging gilt lamps were swaying. They drove to the end of the long street. When they turned a corner, the surroundings were quite clear. It took about half a cup of tea, and a carriage approached. The brocade was temporarily covered with plain satin, and the auspicious beast with gemstones in the four corners was also wrapped. Even the same lamp was replaced with an ordinary white gauze cover.

"Master Xiang," said the soldier who was driving, recognizing it, "Prince Rui's carriage is ahead."

The high-headed horses ran against each other, getting closer and closer, and eventually they had to turn a road. At the intersection, they stopped at the same time, and no one let anyone, the door of the car was pushed open almost at the same time.

Meng Tingyuan leaned out and first saw the prime minister's carriage, and then saw Chen Ruoyin's rich purple robe. He said expressionlessly, "Prime Minister, I haven't seen you for a long time, and I've lost weight."

Chen Ruoyin bowed: "King Lao Rui is thinking about it." He put on a sad look, "The prime minister is stuck in the mansion, but he is always worried about the emperor, but unfortunately the heaven does not fulfill his wishes..."

With such a pretentious attitude, Meng Tingyuan's eyes were cold, and he was too lazy to deal with this old man. "Then ask the Prime Minister to give way," he said. "This king is in a hurry to enter the palace, so don't delay."

Chen Ruoyin said: "How dare I dare to fight with the third prince, but the third prince does not know. My two horses are Turkic Wushan horses, which are very difficult to tame, and they only know how to advance and not retreat."

He made it clear that he would not give in, and mentioned the Turks, as if he was not afraid of the charge of colluding with the barbarians.

Suddenly, a bead flew out and happened to hit the horse's eye. The horse neighed incessantly, causing the body to jolt violently. Chen Ruoyin supported the wall of the car and panicked: "Is there an assassin hiding in Prince Rui's car?!"

Just after he finished speaking, Huo Linfeng swept out from the chariot opposite without waiting for his personal soldiers to draw knives. There seemed to be a flash of cold light. Soon, the sound of the hooves stopped, and the two horses had broken their necks and fell to the ground.

With blood dripping from the tip of the sword, Huo Linfeng raised his head: "Prime Minister, stay safe."

Chen Ruoyin said with a gloomy face: "It turns out that General Huo was hiding in the car and killed the real horse when he showed up. What's the reason?"

Huo Linfeng said, "Wushan horses are the lowest breed of Turkic horses, and we don't want any prisoners in our army. Has the prime minister never seen the world, or was he fooled by barbarians?" He drew his sword and sheathed it, "This general has a problem. If you see an inferior horse, you want to kill it, and if you see a mean person, you want to kill it.”

Chen Ruoyin chuckled lightly: "Murdering is too heavy, and it is easy to lose Yangshou. The Duke of Dingbei is dead, and General Huo must live well."

Huo Linfeng replied, "That's natural." He also laughed and confronted his opponent invisibly, "My father told me a secret when he left, it's about the prime minister."

Chen Ruoyin felt that Huo Linfeng was insulting him, thinking that the other party was just trying to argue, but after thinking about it, Huo Zhao hated him to the bone, maybe he really explained something before he was killed.

He was dubious: "Oh? What secret?"

Huo Linfeng said: "My father said that the Prime Minister was never married and had no children because..."

Before Chen Ruoyin's attack, he said quickly: "Because the prime minister provoked a widow when he was young, and the widow's Xianghao came to the door and cut off the roots of that descendant!"

Chen Ruoyin's face turned pale: "Hu Ying...Hu Ying!"

Huo Linfeng jumped into the car: "It seems that the Prime Minister is going to the palace, and this General and Prince Rui will go first." After saying that, he grabbed the reins and flicked it lightly, and drove the carriage into the intersection.

With the car door ajar, Meng Tingyuan leaned into it and peered out, saying, "General Huo, thank you for venting your anger for the king."

Huo Linfeng thought to himself, how could he be so selfish? He didn't say a word and was silent. Meng Tingyuan pushed open the door a little and asked in a low voice, "Is Chen Ruoyin really caught by that?"

Huo Linfeng said "um" vaguely, even the prince of the dynasty dared to be fooled. Meng Tingyuan seemed very curious and said, "No wonder he is powerful, but he is lonely. Who is the one who told him to cut off his sons and no grandchildren? It's cruel enough."

"He's a butcher." Huo Linfeng replied, "I'm used to killing pigs."

Meng Tingyuan couldn't hold it back, he held on to the door frame and laughed loudly, full of ridicule. Huo Linfeng glanced back and said in vain, "Your father just died, and you can still laugh."

Hearing this, Meng Tingyuan smiled even more, and it took a while to calm down his expression. After he showed no expression, he said, "Since I was a child, I have not been taken seriously by my father. My schoolwork is the best. Knowing that in exchange for the disaster of the master's annihilation."

At that time, he was under ten years old. After that, no Taifu dared to teach him seriously. The officials in the court avoided him. As soon as he became an adult, he was ordered to live outside the palace. He was not like a prince, but a disaster.

Huo Linfeng asked, "Do you hate it?"

Meng Tingyuan thought about it for a while, and then answered nonchalantly, "I'm relieved."

Not far ahead, the outline of the palace gradually became clear, the gate of the palace was tightly closed, and the number of guards guarding the gate had doubled. Huo Linfeng and Meng Tingyuan looked at each other and ran over at a faster pace.

In Prince Rui's Mansion, the camellias in the Jiaoyuan Garden were blooming just right, except that the place was full of withering scenes, Rong Luoyun and Lu Zhun were wandering in the garden, not hesitate to spend, not knowing how many petals they smashed along the way.

Lu Zhun said: "This emperor will die anyway, which catches people by surprise."

Rong Luoyun was a little upset: "Is it possible to post the emperor list first, and the edict said that the emperor's death is imminent, so are you all ready?"

Lu Zhun giggled, a little boy who was not worried, turned around, pulled out two machetes from behind his waist, and said cheerfully: "Second brother, my swordsmanship is much improved, let me show you?"

Waiting for news, Rong Luoyun sat down outside the porch, watching with his cotton bales in his pockets. Lu Zhun got up and started to practice in the garden with two hooks like a crescent moon, slashing camellias, filling the fragrance everywhere.

Rong Luoyun stared at him without blinking, and applauded: "Wonderful! Here's a cross lock!"

Lu Zhun was greatly encouraged, jumped up, and swung his knife lightly and swiftly among the flowers. Rong Luoyun saw the happy place and flew away, the camellia branch lit by the tip of his shoe, and used one hand to discuss with Lu Zhun.

After a while, it started to snow, and the two fought fiercely. Why! Lu Zhun screamed and stopped, and an unblooming flower bud was inserted into the gap between the rabbit fur's neck.

Using camellia as a weapon to get to the point, he was dissatisfied and said, "Second brother, I lost."

Rong Luoyun said: "It's normal to lose to me, why are you pouting."

Lu Zhun retorted: "Then I have made progress!" He pushed Rong Luoyun to sit under the corridor and took off the flowers, "This knife technique is much more powerful, and it was my eldest brother who helped me study it."

Speaking of Duan Huaike, Rong Luoyun thought about Xiganling a little and asked, "Big brother can't be biased and help you study the swordsmanship. What about the fourth gang?"

Lu Zhun slapped his thigh: "That stinky boy, the fourth one! He runs to the military camp all the time. I see him, he would rather be a soldier in the army than the fourth palace master of Bufan Palace."

Rong Luoyun was relieved: "The fourth child likes it, just let him go."

Lu Zhun said sourly, "I used to be with my second brother in the rivers and lakes, and then I made a name for myself with my second sister-in-law, hum..."

Rong Luoyun didn't understand, and was stunned for a moment before returning to his senses, Second Sister-in-law, Huo Linfeng?

He was amused. If he told the disciples of Bufan Palace to gather in Miao Cangtai, would everyone call Huo Linfeng in unison—the wife of the palace master?

The more I think about it, the more I can't help it. In my mind, Lu Zhun and Diao Yuliang are separated from each other, pestering Huo Linfeng and making trouble. Duan Huaike, a gentleman, politely calls out "Second brother and sister", which is really funny!

The laughter was full of joy, and the snow was heavy. The housekeeper came to find them with an umbrella and coaxed them into the house to warm up.

Rong Luoyun and Lu Zhun returned to Zheyuan, and passed a small building. There was an intermittent sound of the piano in the building, which sounded rather sad. Rong Luoyun asked, "Who is playing the piano in the building?"

The housekeeper replied: "It's the princess. It is estimated that the emperor is dead, and the princess is worried."

Rong Luoyun listened silently for a moment, only to feel that the sound of the piano contained sadness. He felt quite strange that Prince Rui had not been favored for many years, and he had a bad relationship with Emperor Cheng and his son, but he did not expect the princess to be so sad.

Without thinking about it, he walked away facing the cold wind and snow.

This day was very boring, the snow was getting heavier and heavier, and there was no way to get out. Rong Luoyun simply read the "Mirror of Evil" in his room, and occasionally set up a game, pondering the art of Qimen. Lu Zhun hugged Taiping roasted sweet potatoes and ate them blindly, which was considered safe.

Until late in the afternoon, Du Zheng called out from outside, "Young master is back!"

Rong Luoyun looked through the window and saw that Huo Linfeng had just entered the garden, with snow on his shoulders, as if he had returned from the desert on the day of victory. After watching it for a long time, he was still happy, and he beckoned: "Old third, come here."

Lu Zhun approached, was gently grabbed by the ear and ordered, he nodded with a smirk, and trotted out.

Huo Linfeng strode under the eaves and stomped his feet. Just as the snowflakes were brushing off his body, the curtain was lifted, and Lu Zhun came out as if welcoming him.

Lu Zhun said, "Second sister-in-law, you're back."

Huo Linfeng stopped: "...what are you calling me?"

Lu Zhun added: "Second sister-in-law, second brother is waiting for you in the room."

Huo Linfeng was in a daze, seeing the child slipping back into the house, he followed, and when he entered the inner room, Lu Zhun threw himself at Rong Luoyun's legs, and the two of them laughed wildly.

The emperor passed away, just in time for the national mourning.

...how is it like a new year in front of me?

The author has something to say: Xiao Huo: speechless