Looking at the sky-high firelight that seemed to be compressed into a small ball, Ji Jiu suddenly felt a sense of depression. He couldn't do this kind of retrograde thing. He was only a mortal and couldn't do many things. For example, the strange scene in front of him, which should have caused a commotion in the camp, is now silent, as if he is the only one left in the whole world. These fires, these smokes, including Ji Jiu himself, seem to be in another mysterious space, making people want to ask: Who am I?

There was such chaos in my heart, and another voice came out, lingering in my mind, as if to answer: It was Ji Jiu.

It's Ji Jiu. Ji Jiu sat slumped on the ground, straightened up again after a brief period of confusion, and went to bed after washing up. A night without dreams.

In addition to the daily military affairs, Ji Jiu found something else to do, such as facing something she had never been willing to face—a past life. A person in his thirties began to follow the clues to find his ethereal past life. Ji Jiu thought it was ridiculous. He lived for twenty years without believing in gods and Buddhas. No matter who this is said to anyone, I am afraid that it will make people laugh out loud. But there is no way to do this. If you walk too much at night, you will encounter ghosts. Ji Jiu didn't believe it before, but now he believes it. Where to start, he already had a plan in his heart, it was impossible to ask the monster, he had nothing to say to him, and this month, the monster didn't come again. The Taoist priest was wandering, and even if he found him, he would not say that Ji Jiu was not a person with such filthy methods. He was arrested and tortured to extract a confession. The only remaining clue is Shen Jue.

Let's start with Shen Jue.

Ji Jiu made up his mind, not going to startle the snake, but instead he transferred a large number of military documents, and found the one with Shen Jue. The copy is innocent, Shen Jue, from Yongcheng, twenty-five, parents Double death.

Holding the thick copy, Ji Jiu pondered for a long time, took a pen and paper, and transcribed the words Yongcheng upright.

Looking through the other soldiers' documents, there were more than ten people from Yongcheng in the barracks, and the young people wanted to know less. In the end, Ji Jiu set his eyes on the two, one was a veteran of the house, and the other was guarding the hay yard. There is always a way to deal with incidents, Ji Jiu decided to use his own way to find those past events that did not exist in memory. He was finally willing to face all of this, perhaps because of the blood that spread across the bed, or because of the suspicion caused by the arms that were too tight around him.

Shen Jue suddenly came in and announced that someone was coming to see him.

Ji Jiu covered up the messy documents on the case and ordered him to bring it.

The visitor is a blue-shirted guest in the imperial city. Ji Jiu was stunned for a moment, and quickly laughed: "Sir Shen." But his eyes looked calmly at the celebrity next to the emperor in front of him, the advisor Shen Hai. Speaking of which, the Ji family also raised a lot of disciples, all of whom were full of talents and learning, and those with outstanding behaviors all passed the imperial examinations, so they all sought their own positions, but no one knew that they were the disciples of the Ji family. The mark of the Ji family may be erased one day when the Ji family collapses. The man in front of him was the emperor's servant. The status is very different from that of ordinary disciples. There is almost no need to guess in the future, Jin Can can be seen with the naked eye. It's just that the emperor has not given him a real position at present. It is better to have no official position. There are some things that officials can't do, but it is easier to do with the title of advisor.

Ji Jiu thought that he finally had a confidant of his own. But that person is no longer Ji Jiu.

Shen Hai saluted and said, "General Ji, stay safe."

Ji Jiu invited him to a seat, ordered someone to serve tea, and said, "Very good."

Shen Hai looked at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Why does the general call me my lord? Don't ask me why I came here."

Ji Jiu only smiled, but said nothing, looking at him sharply and sharply. After being in the army for a long time, he has already developed a calm and relaxed attitude that is unique to military generals, but he is fierce and old-fashioned, and ordinary people can't stand it under his eyes. The person in front of him was sitting peacefully, with a calm demeanor, but Ji Jiu saw a shadow of depression through his stretched face. This is a man with a story. Ji Jiu looked at his calmness and the deep depression behind his calmness, thinking that he was carrying something. Otherwise, why would such a person not go to the scientific field to gain fame, but use means to become the emperor's inner secretary. Who does not know that companionship is like companionship with a tiger.

The two looked at each other for a moment, and Shen Hai lowered his eyes first and said, "Since the general is like this, I will tell the truth. It is rumored that the army has started recruiting troops in recent months, and the emperor asked me to ask a question."

Ji Jiu said: "The book has been written, but it has not been sent. Since the lord is here, it would be more convenient to present the book to the emperor."

Shen Hai was stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting that he would say this, and blurted out: "The general is not afraid that the emperor will become suspicious and take the general seal of the Ji family."

Ji Jiu smiled and said, "If it's so simple, why let the adults run this trip?"

Shen Hai was silent when he heard the words, and immediately laughed, and said, "I won't give it to your lord. If you have a lord, follow me to the imperial city. The emperor is waiting for you."

Ji Jiu did not hesitate, and immediately responded. The departure date was set for the next day, and Shen Jue went with him.

The majestic palaces of the imperial city are like a picture scroll, gradually revealing before the eyes, like thick ink in the gradually withered scenery after the fall, Ji Jiu stood outside the city and looked up, remembering that he was here when he was a hot-blooded boy. , go hand in hand with the emperor on the dragon throne today, help him ascend to the throne of God, help him sit on the country, and then to this day, and even in the future, it is time for him to retire. A sense of melancholy slipped out of my heart.

Shen Hai was beside him and didn't say a word. When he woke up by himself, the three of them went on the road again.

Shen Jue was waiting outside the palace gate, Ji Jiu and Shen Hai went to the study, Ji Jiu was also waiting outside the imperial study, Shen Hai went in first, about a cup of tea, Shen Hai came out and called Ji Jiu in, but he Return.

The eunuchs invited him in, and then quietly withdrew. There was a huge imperial study, only Ji Jiu and the emperor were left.

The emperor stood before the desk, never raising his head. Ji Jiu knelt down on one knee and stopped making a sound. The two rulers and ministers seemed to be in a silent stalemate, and seemed to have a tacit understanding, waiting for the other party to make a move first.

After a long time, the emperor threw a cinnabar pen, and Longyan said coldly: "Are you here to kneel to show me?"

There was no one else in the room this time, Ji Jiu said, "What about the emperor?"

"Ji Jiu!" The emperor waved his sleeves and stood up, walked in front of him, and looked down at the jet-black top, "Are you tired of being a general by recruiting troops without authorization?!"

"Go back to Your Majesty," Ji Jiu said lightly, "I dare not."

"Don't you dare?" The emperor rolled his lips and smiled sarcastically: "In this world, is there something that you, Ji Jiu, dare not do? It's the first time I've heard of it."

"Your Majesty." Ji Jiu took out the memorial that had not yet been delivered. "The memorial for the expansion of the army has already been prepared, but the Lord of Heaven is not beautiful, and it has rained for half a month, so the performance has been postponed."

"In this case, God does not allow you to pass the memorial." The emperor picked up the memorial and threw it to the side of the dragon case, and said slowly: "It can be seen that God does not allow you to expand your army."

Ji Jiu was still indifferent and said, "The army has been expanded. It should be because God does not allow the emperor to receive the memorial immediately."

In a word, the emperor of gambling was choked with anger and his face was blue, but the man who was kneeling kept his head down, and he didn't even look at him, as if he didn't notice anything, and he pretended to be. You see, what do you have to do with me when you lose your temper with the air! This set of Ji Jiu has been used for more than ten years, the emperor thought, why is it still in use today? I really didn't improve. He calmed down his anger and got him up.

After getting up, Ji Jiu still lowered his head, looked trembling, and stood with his breath held, as if he had infinite fear and obedience. The old man with his head drooped, leaving only one forehead for the emperor to see. Get angry, who will look at the tameness you pretend to be! He couldn't help but stretched out his hand and pinched his chin, forcing the general to raise his face and look straight, his voice still vicious: "You have grown!"

Ji Jiuping looked at the emperor, his voice still so annoyingly lukewarm, "My minister is frightened."

The emperor spat in his heart and couldn't help but say: "It's been three years, you can't forget it?"

Ji Jiu tilted his head slightly, and shook the gripping hand on his chin without raising his eyelids, "What's the matter?"

The emperor was sullen, and after a while, he whispered: "Do you think I don't want to keep them?" Then he stopped talking.

Ji Jiu finally turned around and was silent. The fire three years ago burned the main hall of the harem, as well as more than a dozen princes and nobles who were seeking business in the hall, including the brother of the emperor in front of him, his uncle... and the woman who was the empress dowager. There was even Ji Jiu who finally fell into silence while looking at the firelight. At that time, he was still naive, always thinking that even in the family of the emperor, human relations are necessary, but he never believed that when he was a child, the person who was dedicated to assisting him would be so cruel. Since then, Xu also realized that one day, they will stand in opposite positions. It's not that the emperor destroys his subjects, or it's that the subjects are rebellious and ruthless!

Ji Jiu lowered his eyes, "It's all over, Wei Chen doesn't remember."

The emperor turned around and couldn't see his expression clearly. He only heard a sigh, if there was anything or nothing: "Xiao Jiu, you are going to leave me eventually."

The general didn't say a word, only at the end, he replied: "One day the emperor no longer needs me."

The emperor turned around abruptly, his voice chirping: "No!"

Ji Jiu was silent again. There was only air movement between the two, and floating dust drifted. After a long time, Ji Jiu said, "I don't believe it."

The emperor narrowed his eyes: "I am the monarch of the world, do you dare to believe it?!"

Ji Jiu looked at him for a moment, then looked away, "I don't believe the king who is bickering with me here."

The emperor was speechless. Ji Jiu was speechless after speaking.

After a while, the emperor returned to the dragon chair and sat down in anger, picked up the cinnabar pen, threw it aside, picked up the memorial, opened it, and tossed it. "The Biyun gauze cake you like, go eat it."

Ji Jiu obeyed and sat down to the side and ate some snacks. After eating two pieces, put down the pastry and drank a sip of tea, and sat upright.

The emperor had calmed down at this time, opened his memorial, read it for a moment, and said, "You don't need to worry about recruiting and training troops, the old general is in charge of it, Ji Jiu..."

Ji Jiu got up, lifted his robe, knelt down, and said, "This minister is here."

"How about I give you another two thousand elite soldiers?"

Ji Jiu was stunned: "What's the use?"

"It is said that the Xiongnu royal court is behind the vast desert, and no one has found the road there. I want you to personally lead the troops and draw a map." The emperor raised his eyes, his eyes were cold and majestic: "You want to pacify the north. Jiang, how can you not know the way?"

Ji Jiu knelt there, and it took a while to make a sound. There was a subtle excitement in his voice, "The minister follows the order. It's just that 2,000 soldiers and horses are too many, and the supply of food and grass is a problem. Five hundred elite soldiers are enough."

The emperor was stunned for a moment, "Five hundred? Are you going to die?"

"Nothing, the minister and his subordinates are just pretending to be traders." Ji Jiu didn't care.

"Really five hundred?" The emperor was still hesitant.

"Really." Ji Jiu said. In fact, I still feel a lot.

That's how it was settled.

When he got up again, the emperor wrote the memorial and asked him to sit aside for a while, there was still something to say. Ji Jiu didn't know what was going on, so he sat back down again, ate snacks and tea, he was full, his stomach was full, and his mind was suddenly stunned. He rushed back all the way, which was quite exhausting at first, but now the big thing is over, and he was relieved. , and his appetite was replenished, Ji Jiu saw that the emperor was still not raising his head, obviously he had to be busy for a while, so he rested on his forehead, and accidentally took a nap and fell asleep.

When I woke up, I found myself lying on the soft couch, covered with a quilt, the quilt surface was bright yellow, embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, and the wood case was burning with incense of Ningshen, and green smoke curled up. Ji Jiu stared blankly for a moment, then sat up in a trance. When he was moving, he realized that there were people beside him. He turned his head and saw that the emperor was sitting on the side wearing a dragon robe, and his clothes were disheveled. There was a quilt on his knees, and when he saw that he was awake, he squinted from behind the memorial and said, "Have you slept?"

Ji Jiu looked at him and seemed startled.

The emperor kicked him under the quilt and became impatient, "Are you awake?"

Ji Jiu let out an "um", a sleepwalking voice: "Wake up."

"hungry?"

"Yeah." Just after answering, Ji Jiu jolted, completely awake, and felt bad, got up quickly, knelt beside the bed and said, "This minister is rude, please punish the emperor."

The emperor ignored him, made him kneel, and ordered the eunuchs to move a small table and put it on the dragon bed. The eunuchs bowed their heads, placed the utensils on the table, bowed and stepped back without making a sound. Only then did he say: "Get up, I haven't eaten yet. Let's eat together."

Ji Jiu had no choice but to get up and stand aside to take the bowls and chopsticks. The emperor scolded angrily, "Sit down!"

Ji Jiu sat next to the edge of the bed.

The monarch and minister ate silently, and suddenly the emperor said, "I heard that there are more people in your tent at night."

Ji Jiu was eating with respect and caution, and when he heard these words suddenly, the porridge in his mouth almost spurted out. He swallowed quickly, coughing like crazy.

When the emperor saw his coughing red eyes, he was still very indifferent, and said slowly: "Someone said that he looks like a man, when will you be able to do this?"

Ji Jiu shook his head and waved his hands while coughing, obviously denying it.

Seeing how hard he was coughing, the emperor kindly reached out and patted him on the back, "It seems to be true, so scared like this."

Even if he didn't say it, when he said Ji Jiu, his cough became worse, and he almost passed out.

The emperor did not speak.

Ji Jiu covered her throat, and it took a long time for her to recover.

The emperor snorted, "I know, otherwise..." Otherwise, he didn't say anything.

Ji Jiu turned her face away, pretended to be unaware, and drank porridge quickly, just to escape quickly. The emperor could still see through this thought, and where he was allowed to escape, the emperor said: "I asked you that day, what is the next sentence of 'repay Qiongjiu', you said that your generals are not literate, and refuted it, today I'll ask you again, how are you going to answer?"

Putting down the bowl and chopstick in his hand, Ji Jiu said solemnly, "This minister is ignorant."

"Ignorance?" The emperor's face froze, and he suddenly smiled. He led someone to remove the table above the bed, got up and put down the curtain, and took off his robe, "Have you ever been really ignorant?"

Ji Jiu froze for a moment. Seeing that his face was cold and serious, he quickly said, "Your Majesty!"

As soon as the words fell, they were hugged.

Ji Jiu's mind was sluggish when he was neutral, he subconsciously grabbed his shoulder and pushed him away, "Your Majesty!"

The emperor was pushed a bit, and became angry, narrowed his eyes and said solemnly: "You dare to push me?!"

Ji Jiu's hand stretched out in mid-air suddenly froze, and then slowly retracted, "Don't dare." After a brief pause, he said, "I am not a prostitute in the emperor's harem."

The emperor said, "I know better than you." Seeing Ji Jiu's stiff expression, he slowed down and said, "How about you stay by my side?"

Ji Jiu lowered his head and said lightly: "Ji Jiu can only be the emperor's general, and the battlefield is the fate of the minister. Staying by the emperor's side, Ji Jiu is not Ji Jiu."

The emperor was silent for a while, then took his hand and sat down, rubbed the calloused hand, clenched his hand again, and said, "It's not Ji Jiu, who is it?"

Who else could it be?

He is the emperor in the palace, and everyone submits to him and respects him. But in this world, who else, like Ji Jiu, is willing to show some sincerity in front of him. The emperor asked: It's not Ji Jiu, who is it?

Ji Jiu looked at him in a daze, as if the prince who was bullied many years ago was in front of him. In order to get punished, the two bruised and bruised teenagers cuddled on the same bed, comforting and relying on each other.

The bed at that time was not bright yellow, there was no majestic dragon pattern, there was no solemn carving, it was simple and even to the point of dilapidation. On that day, the young Ji Jiu swore an oath: I must help you to sit on the throne, why? If they can sit, you can't! The prince of that day, with red eyes and an expression of forbearance and fragility, was also resolute and resolute, and said seriously: If I become the emperor, I must make you my general and give you the world's troops!

Afterwards, the vows were verified one by one, but Ji Jiu was not the reckless Ji Jiu, and the emperor was no longer the pitiful young man.

The support of youth has changed, so even the vague ambiguity has already changed. Ji Jiu thought that if he hadn't ascended the throne as emperor, maybe, maybe, maybe really, they still had a chance to continue the development of the ambiguity.

Only now, the emperor is the emperor, and the subject is the subject. Although they all cared about their former affection, they didn't know when it started, and they began to be wary of each other. The slightest trace of ambiguity has long since disappeared.

Tightening that hand tightly, Ji Jiu said, "If the emperor is willing to treat each other sincerely, how can there be no one who is sincere?" It's just that that person is definitely not Ji Jiu.

The emperor said: "I don't treat you well?" For so many years, he has been relying on him and protecting him. Everyone can see that the emperor loves this former companion. He didn't appreciate it.

Ji Jiu said, "What the emperor wants is not Ji Jiu."

"Nonsense. How can I not know what I want?"

"The Ji Jiu that the emperor wants is Ji Jiu who will settle the world for you, not Ji Jiu who will serve you next to your pillow." Ji Jiu pulled out his hand and said, "Does the emperor think he wants Ji Jiu? What the emperor wants is only the pair from ten years ago. Just a teenager."

After a short pause, Ji Jiu said again, "Young people will eventually grow up."

The words moved his mind, the emperor sat up straight, and said no more, hugged the general in front of him, hugged him in his arms, as if he was embracing the past beyond recognition, embracing those young and frivolous people who once had, hugging It's a beautiful time that's gone.

Ji Jiu didn't move, his expression was peaceful, only showing two signs of tiredness.

Growing up is also tiring. It's just that didn't know this when was young.

At this moment, the wind blew up, the candle shook, Ji Jiu froze, turned over and drew out the sword hanging on the shelf, blocking it from the emperor. He is extremely fast, but not as fast as anyone else.

The moment the candle swayed, the emperor was knocked down by something and fell on the bed, and then his throat was strangled.

When Ji Jiu saw it clearly, he hurriedly shouted, "Shen Jue is presumptuous!"

The young man who suddenly appeared was red-eyed and murderous, but after hearing this, he let go of his hand.

The emperor escaped from death, clutching his throat, shocked and angry, but without showing any clues, he asked coldly, "Who are you?"

Ji Jiu hurriedly knelt down, "Your Majesty, this is the bodyguard of the minister. His temperament is reckless, his mind is dull, and the emperor is frightened, and the minister is willing to take the blame!"

As soon as the emperor heard it, he knew that he was excusing him. After a moment of silence, he said coldly: "Is this the 'person in the tent' at night?"

Ji Jiu froze for a while, and before he could defend himself, he heard Shen Jue say angrily: "Nonsense, don't slander me... my general!"

The hesitation in his words was clearly heard by these two cunning and cunning people. The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "The palace is heavily guarded, how did you get in?"

This time Ji Jiu took over the conversation, pulled Shen Jue to his knees and said, "He is an orphan, he wanders around without concern, and has learned some crooked ways..." The emperor interrupted him and pointed at Shen Jue: "I let him speak!"

Shen Jue glanced at his father, and had no choice but to follow his words and admit that he had learned some "wicked ways".

The emperor straightened his clothes and sat up, looked at the two of them, and said with a smile: "It's very interesting. Ji Jiu, you go down and rest first."

Ji Jiu's face turned pale: "Your Majesty!"

"What? Could it be that you're gone, and he still wants to kill me?" The emperor said, seeing Ji Jiu's face stiffen again, he froze his smile, and said after a while: "Since Aiqing refuses to obey me, why not? How about letting him follow me?"

Ji Jiu stood up abruptly: "No!"

The emperor's eyes became gloomy when he heard the words, and he looked at him and asked, "No way?"

Shen Jue also got up and tugged at the hem of Ji Jiu's robe, "Don't worry, General, nothing will happen in the end."

Ji Jiu said flatly, "No way!"

Shen Jue was stunned for a moment: "It's nothing, General go back."

The emperor said, "Ji Jiu, do you really think I dare not touch you?!"

Ji Jiu stood for a moment, drew out his sword, threw it on the ground, and said bitterly, "I would like to be punished for my adopted son!" The sword on the ground was shining brightly, flashing silver and white in front of the three people's eyes, full of murderous aura.

Shen Jue laughed suddenly, Ying Ting's brows and eyes were a little more childish, and she said, "Father."

Ji Jiu glared at him and responded sternly.

The emperor's expression was inscrutable, and he said, "Why don't I know that Aiqing has adopted a son?"

Shen Jue said, "Dad, let's go, the child is fine."

Ji Jiu ignored him.

Shen Jue hurriedly said again: "It's nothing to do," looked at the emperor again, and said with two points of disdain: "It's just an emperor."

The emperor had never heard anyone commenting on him like this, and he stayed where he was for a while, speechless.

Ji Jiu hurriedly rebuked: "Shut up!"

Absolutely, a mess.