Rao Tu reached out and traced his shadow on the curtain in the void.

In the blue house in Qingzhou, his desk was set in the bedroom. When she was lying on the bed in the middle of the night, the candlelight cast his reading figure on the curtain. She liked to draw his finger on the curtain. shadow.

The shadow stood up, gradually getting bigger, Rao Tu withdrew her hand. He opened the curtain and his eyes fell on her face.

"You haven't slept yet?" He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the wound on her neck.

Rao Tu turned her face away, "I'm going to sleep."

"Aheng..."

"My lord, I am Rao Tu."

He pinched her chin and met her eyes, where a thin light flickered, like the stars in the night sky.

"What are you crying for?"

"I didn't cry."

He put his hand into the quilt, touched her cold hands and feet, paused, took off his coat and lay under the quilt, holding her tightly in his arms, wishing that there would be no gap between the two.

Rao Tu was a little bored, but she felt inexplicably relieved when she smelled the faint sandalwood fragrance on his clothes. It was like she bumped into someone in the dark forest, and she felt at ease knowing that it was him.

"Yan Bing..." Her tears soaked his clothes.

Shen Zhu put his big hand on the back of her head, looked up at her flushed cheeks, and looked at her moist red lips. The wall of his heart that he had built with great difficulty collapsed, his two cool lips pressed against her rosy cheeks, opened his teeth, and absorbed the sweetness inside.

Rao Tu couldn't help wrapping her arms around his neck, his black and white hair hanging down to the crevice of her neck, a little itchy. She couldn't help but respond to his tenderness, just like Ah Heng back then who responded to her Yan Bing greenly.

This soft and fragrant body is his Ah Heng, the Ah Heng he has lost for so many years!

Ratu's hot skin felt his slightly cold fingers, and she couldn't help but tremble slightly, and her heart instantly flashed across the dark sky like a lightning bolt. She remembered Lu Zhiming's words - peach blossom dew is poisonous, if you do the same thing again, He will die sooner than you.

Stopping the movement entangled in his body, she raised her hand to push him suddenly.

Shen Zhu looked up at her, his eyes were filled with a certain erotic color, and he was breathing heavily. He called out, "Aheng..."

Rao Tu grabbed the already messy clothes with trembling hands, "Go away..."

He was stunned for a moment, with a bit of confusion in his eyes, he stretched out his hands to gather her clothes, then wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly like that.

Rao Tu burst into tears, she couldn't help sobbing, "Shen Zhu, I hate you... I hate you so much... Why don't you die..."

His eyes were red, "I've wanted this life for a long time, you can take it...die in your arms, or you can."

He hugged her tightly, not letting go.

Rao Tu pulled his hand hard, her fingertips digging into the flesh to pinch the blood, but he hugged him even tighter.

She was tired from beating and pinching, and fell into a deep sleep. And he, his lips trembling in the dark, wept silently.

When the sky was dim, she opened her eyes and met his tired eyes. His eyes moved, and it landed on his snow-like hair.

Whitehead overnight.

In an instant, her heart clenched fiercely.

He smiled softly, "My body is getting colder and colder, and I can't keep your hands warm. You have cold hands and feet. It seems that after you go back, you will need to spread more in the warm pavilion in Meihuawu. hot..."

Rao Tu broke free from his arms. He didn't seem to have the slightest bit of strength. After being pushed gently by her, he let go of the arm that was holding her. She wrapped her clothes and said coldly, "I'm not going back."

He let out a tired "um", "Alright... The peach blossoms in Qingzhou are about to bloom. In the early spring, accompany me to lie down in Qingzhou."

The sound became smaller and smaller until finally, it was almost inaudible, and he slowly closed his eyes.

Rao Tu felt a little cold in her heart, crawled over and pushed him, but there was no response. She couldn't help panicking, and shouted a few times: "Shen Zhu!"

He didn't respond. In his dream, he returned to Qingzhou. That year, she took his hairpin made of sandalwood and smiled brightly under the peach tree.

Lu Zhiming was standing outside the hut. Facing the dark Qimen forest in front of him, he stretched out his hand to pinch. Hearing Rao Tu's voice, he pushed open the door and kneaded a few acupoints on Shen Zhu's body, while helping him. Detecting the pulse, he said softly: "Poison can hurt people, but love can kill you."

When Rao Tu heard the word of death, she shook her head and wept, "He is such a heinous person, and the King of Hell is unwilling to accept him, so how could he die?"

Xiao Yanning also stepped into the room. He took out two porcelain vases from his sleeves, one for Lu Zhiming and one for Raotu.

"Two antidotes, Mr. Lu, please take one for Lord Shen first."

Lu Zhiming poured out a scarlet elixir from the porcelain bottle, and while feeding it to Shen Zhu, he put his palm on his back to help him overcome it.

Xiao Yanning looked at Rao Tu and said indifferently, "The other one you took, you need to take it three months later to completely detoxify him. If you don't want to save him, you can return it to me, or you can throw it away at will. If you haven’t thought about it yet, take it and think about it.”

Rao Tu held the porcelain bottle tightly in her hands, staring at Shen Zhu, whose head was full of white silk, without speaking.

Five days later, he slowly woke up and was already in the Shen residence's Shuyuan dormitory. There was no one else in the room, he called out "Aheng", Yang Qian ran in from outside, and replied, "Mrs. Rao has gone to Meihuawu, and it was sent back by the Fifth Prince."

The place where he covered his chest was not as congested and dull as it was a few days ago. He took a few breaths slowly and asked, "Is Mrs. Rao okay?"

"It's okay ma'am, it's just..."

"what?"

"Mrs. Rao ordered Madam Pei's coffin to be brought back to the ancestral tomb of the Shen family in Qingzhou."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a while, he said tiredly, "I see."

"When the fifth prince left, he said, ask the prince to give him an answer after the palace banquet to welcome the envoy from the north."

Shen Zhu nodded, "When is the palace banquet?"

"Tomorrow night."

"I...have slept for five days?" He was a little surprised.

"Yes, the emperor has just come to edict, after the adults wake up, go to the palace."

"Prepare for court clothes."

The maid presented the white-robed crane replacement clothes that had just been sent by the manufacturing bureau in the palace. Shen Zhu put on his court clothes and rode towards the palace on horseback.

There was only one person in the downtown area, white clothes, white hair, a cold and handsome face, a slender and straight body, and he was really a figure like an immortal riding on a big horse!

The girl blushed with shame, the woman looked away, and the faces of the young masters who boasted of being suave and strolling on the street with a folding fan were obviously jealous.

There is no such person in the world! Some people recognized him as Lord Shen Zhu Shen, who had just been promoted to the Minister of Rites, and felt even more jealous, thinking that this God is so unfair, not only gave him such a handsome appearance, but also more amazing in terms of talent and strategy, and married a man. The beautiful and indescribable stunner was a concubine, but the sage named the lady Ru as the Junjun Wanyi!

It was also heard that his eldest lady had gone, and the emperor wanted to marry Princess Xunyang to him as a sequel.

How could all the good things in the world be taken up by his surname Shen?

Shen Zhu didn't look sideways, and went straight to the palace gate. Things in the world are like people drinking water, and they only know whether it is cold or warm.

In the imperial study room of the palace, the old emperor who was criticizing Zhu heard that Shen Zhu asked for an interview, and he was summoned into the hall. When Shen Zhu entered the hall, out of the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimpse of two more people in the hall, Princess Xunyang and Prince Yu Xiao Yanlie.

Shen Zhu's face was expressionless, the emperor raised his eyes and glanced at him, and said, "Shen Qing is ill, so there is no need to give a big gift."

Shen Zhu heard the words and bowed slightly, "Thank you, Emperor Longen."

The old emperor looked at his new court attire and said, "Your white robe suits your white hair very well. I jokingly said that Shen Zhu had a white head, and I don't know how many women in the city who adore you will be chilled. It's not diminished in the slightest, on the contrary, it is more elegant and elegant."

Shen Zhu said warmly: "The emperor teases Wei Chen."

The emperor suddenly sighed again: "I hear that your eldest lady has passed away, my heart is very sad, and I am sorry for the change."

Shen Zhu lowered his head and remained silent.

"Tomorrow night's palace banquet, I ordered Xunyang to organize it with you. You will naturally know when you are seated. I just instructed to list the position of Prince Yu as the first one on the left."

"Wei Chen takes orders."

"Well, I'm tired too, you and Xunyang both go down." The old emperor waved his hand, supported by Prince Yu, got up and went to the inner hall behind the curtain.

Shen Zhu exited the imperial study and walked alone on the white marble imperial road. Princess Xunyang chased after her and called out, "Master Shen, stay."

Shen Zhu paused slightly, turned around and gave her a bow, "What advice does the princess have?"

Princess Xunyang stared at him receiving the gift humbly, with anger in her heart, she resisted pressing Nai down and said softly, "How is your body? There is a genius doctor in this palace, let him take a look for you?"

"Don't bother Your Highness, it's fine for Wei Chen."

"Why is your hair white? Is it...is it because of Pei's?"

Shen Zhu didn't answer, but said respectfully, "There are some things in Wei Chen's family, so let's go first."

Princess Xunyang grabbed his cuff and said pitifully, "Sir Shen, do you hate this palace so much that you don't even want to say a word?"

Shen Zhu didn't go to see her, but said calmly: "The next scholar, the princess is a golden branch and jade leaf, and has not yet left the cabinet. I'm afraid that talking too much will damage the princess' reputation."

There were tears in Princess Xunyang's eyes, and she simply said everything in her heart, "Since I have met you, I am still a princess, but if you want to marry me, I will be your concubine willingly, and what kind of reputation is there? Word?"

"Princess is careful, Shen Zhucheng is frightened."

Xun Yang firmly grasped his cuff, "I accidentally said, Shen Zhu, what's wrong with me? Am I not beautiful or graceful enough? How can I compare to the vicious Pei Shi? Can’t you go up to that lowly-born Rao Tu?”

"The princess is as beautiful as a flower, and she is generous and decent. Neither Pei Shi and Rao Tu can talk with the princess on the same day. Even Shen Zhu should be ashamed in front of the princess. In fact, Shen Zhu is incompetent and has nothing to do with other people."

"You lied to me! Shen Zhu, you don't want to marry me, not because of these, but because of my princess status. You also like me, right? After I marry you, I won't limit your freedom, I will treat you kindly. Raotu, did you know that she was named the Prince of Wanyi, and the word Wanyi was suggested by me to the royal father, do you like it?"

A few haze flashed in Shen Zhu's eyes, he suddenly raised his head to look at the princess who was almost mad at her request, and said coldly, "If Wei Chen really doesn't want to marry the princess, what should you do?"

"You will marry me, otherwise, the true identity of the woman in your mansion will not be covered. What do you think if the royal father knows that she is the daughter of a criminal minister of Xuanzhou, what will the father do to her?" Princess Xunyang said at the same time. , trembling and weeping.

Shen Zhu said lightly, "Is the princess threatening Shen?"

"You're so smart, you should understand the truth. In fact, the royal father already knew about the woman's life experience. As long as you marry me, she will only be Rao Tu, not the daughter of Xuanzhou's criminal minister."

"If I only have half a year to live, do you still want to marry me?"

"No, I've asked the genius doctor, the white head is just a result of grief and anger, you are because of Pei's death, right? It will be fine in the future..."

"Enough! Your Royal Highness, Shen Mou clearly told you today that once your third brother, Prince Yu, sits firmly on the dragon chair, he will definitely not spare my life!"

"No, I marry you, how could the third brother kill you?"

"The royal family is cool, do I need to say more in front of the princess?"

Princess Xunyang stomped her feet, gritted her teeth and said, "Okay! Even if he wants to kill you, why should I stay away from the capital and return to Linquan? Even if you die, why not go to hell with you? I can't get you anyway. It is better to live than to die.”

Shen Zhu stared directly at the princess for the first time, and after a while, a cool smile appeared in his eyes, he cupped his hands towards her, turned and walked away quickly.

Things in the world are always easier said than done. Many words are sincere at the moment they are spoken, but when that time comes, how many people will be able to do it? He knew that there was no other woman in the world who would be like her, marrying him as his wife when he had nothing, and still infatuated with him when he was completely neglected.

There will be no more.

Princess Xunyang stared blankly at his back, she clenched her fists tightly, her teeth rattled.

It took many years for the golden branches and jade leaves of the big beam to realize that the love of her life was not really Shen Zhu, but just a cool shadow of him that she imagined. The girl's love has turned into obsession, which is the root of the tragedy in her life.

Shen Zhu got on his horse and walked along the imperial road outside the imperial city to the Jade Road of Guozijian. Under the archway that crossed the street, he accidentally found a carriage parked below, and from the carriage walked out a brightly dressed woman in goose-yellow clothes. But it is Raoda.

She helped the mountain ghost to the front of a poor little beggar under the archway. The little beggar was only seven or eight years old. He was as thin as wood, covered with coal black, and had a bird's nest. When he saw a bright lady walking in front of him, he threw himself on the ground. Kowtow, muttering words in his mouth, "Madam, please reward me with some copper coins... Madam, please reward me with some copper coins..."

Rao Tu looked down at the little beggar with a smile. Instead of squatting down and giving him a few pieces of silver like a kind-hearted woman, she raised her feet in front of the pedestrians in the street and kicked the little beggar's ass like a wicked woman. With a kick, he covered his nose and said with disgust, "Dirty and annoying!"

Shen Zhu frowned imperceptibly, seeing her walking around the little beggar and walking towards him, showing a bright smile, "Why did your lord stay in the palace for so long? Rao Tu is already waiting."

Her vicious behavior made passers-by dare not speak out, and even the guards at the gate of Guozijian had angry expressions on their faces.

Shen Zhu's thoughts moved slightly, he already wanted to understand what she was doing, he sneered and got off his horse and held her hand, pulled her back to the carriage, and said to the mountain ghost who was driving: "Go back to the house, don't you think your master is ashamed?"

The mountain ghost drove away, Rao Tu leaned against the wall of the car, "Anyway, the scholars in Guozijian regarded me as a scourge, saying that I killed Mrs. Pei, and since I had assumed a false name for no reason, they simply ignored it."

Shen Zhu repeated lightly, "For no reason?"

"Does your lord also think that Pei Shi was killed by me?"

He stopped talking, raised the curtain and looked back, only to see the passers-by running frantically to the little beggar who was kicked by Ratu to put money and food, and a young Confucian scholar from the Guozijian came out and took the The child is led into the gate of the Guozijian.

Shen Zhu knew in his heart that the little beggar would be able to work in Guozijian in the future, even if he was only a sweeper, he would gain a lot of knowledge. What's more, he knew the scholars of Guozijian, so he definitely wouldn't ask the little beggar to do rough work, instead he would try to teach him to read and write.

Just because this little beggar was kicked by the Ratu demon girl, they had to take care of them in every possible way. This is probably the scholar's jealousy.

Shen Zhu sighed: "I'm afraid that from now on, all the beggars in the city will go to the archway of the Guozijian, waiting for you to kick them with their butts."

Rao Tu smiled bitterly: "There are a lot of unsightly words about me in the city. It's not bad for me to do good deeds. If you protect me, sir, I'm afraid even your reputation will deteriorate in the future."

Shen Zhu looked at her: "Are you also afraid of these rumors?"

"I used to be very afraid, but now I'm not afraid anymore."

He stared into her eyes with bitterness in his heart, before? Is it when he went out to study and she was waiting at home?

Rao Tu turned her face away so that he could not see, "I came to the capital, and I saw a lot of ruthless schemes. Are you not tired of living in this Jinling City?"

He put his arms around her shoulders, "Come out, just to show your face in front of the Imperial Prison?"

"I said it was to wait for you, do you believe it?"

"I don't quite believe it."

She chuckled lightly, but her eyes were extremely cold, "I don't believe it either. It's too boring, I want to come out and see it. I haven't visited this Jinling City very much. I used to yearn for it, and I always wanted to come and see it. , I see it now, but err, it's not a big deal."

He gently rested her head on his shoulder, "The Lantern Festival will take a while, I'll show you the lights."

His gentle tone was like his promise to Aheng back then, when he said, "The lantern festival in Jinling City is very lively. In the future, I will take you to see the prosperity of the prosperous world."

Rao Tu remained silent, leaning against his chest and gently closed her eyes.

"After the palace banquet, the emperor will decree that Princess Xunyang will marry me." He said lightly.

"Adults, adults can decide for themselves." Her voice was even lower.

"If I don't agree, you won't be able to hide your identity as a sinner in Xuanzhou." He looked down at her.

Rao Tu did not speak, not even her eyelashes trembled.

Her indifference made Shen Zhu a little disappointed. In fact, he knew that even if the identity of Xuanzhou's sinners could not be hidden, what could they do? Anyway, to her, it was just a disguise.

He just wanted to hear her say it herself.

As Shen Zhu's concubine, Rao Tu was not allowed to go to the banquet in the palace, not to mention the rules of the palace, even if it was the emperor's decree, she didn't want to go, for fear of being drowned by the spit stars of those great scholars of the Imperial College. .

However, Rao Tu didn't stay on Plum Blossom Pier honestly. For some reason, she got interested and took the mountain ghost to buy lanterns.

The mountain ghost is also inexplicable, walking with Rao Tu on the silent street, "There is still a few days until the Lantern Festival, so I said there are no lanterns." The little girl muttered while kicking the stones on the road.

Rao Tu asked: "Shan Gui, do you think all the lanterns in this city will be sold to the palace? It is estimated that a lot of lanterns will be used to entertain the envoys from the north."

Shan Gui shook his head in disapproval: "The lights in the palace are all made by the Internal Affairs Bureau. How can the lights from outside flow into the palace?"

Rao Tu looked at a figure on the road in front of her, and suddenly stopped. The figure came to the front, with high spirits, wearing a light blue robe, and a delicate golden flute around her waist, but it was Nangong Yiwu.

Rao Tu smiled slightly: "Why didn't Young Master Nangong go to the palace for a banquet?"

Nangong Yiwu smiled and gave her a bow, "How can I have that qualification? Why didn't Sister Rao go?"

"Like you, I naturally don't have that qualification."

Nangong Yiwu laughed, "What's the point of the banquet in the palace, it's not fun to stick to those rules, why don't I invite my sister to eat hot pot?"

"hot pot?"

"Exactly, there is a thirty-year-old shop in Yongzi Lane nearby. The bottom of the pot is a recipe from Shu. It is very pure and the business is very hot. I just don't know if we can get a seat when we go there. , try your luck?"

The mountain ghost was eager to try, and secretly pushed Raotu.

Rao Tu smiled and said, "Then ask your son to lead the way."

Nangong Yiwu led the two of them to a remote alley. Before entering a few steps, he smelled the strong hot pot smell wafting from the inside, spicy and fragrant, the mountain ghost swallowed and quickened his pace.

The facade of the hot pot restaurant is very inconspicuous, and it doesn't even have a signboard, but Rao Tu saw the luxurious carriages parked outside the store, and knew that the people who came here to consume are either rich or expensive. Walking into the small shop, it was steaming hot, and it was already full of customers.

Rao Tu walked to an empty table by the window, and sat down directly regardless of the crystal clear jade gourd on the table.

Seeing that Nangong Yiwu couldn't stop him, he had to sit down and say with a smile, "Auntie, I didn't expect you to cause trouble today. Why do I have to be unlucky every time I meet you?"

"Every time, the young master invites him warmly, but he is disrespectful." Rao Tu smiled.

Nangong Yiwu frowned and thought about it. The first time they met, he shouted that he wanted to borrow Shen Zhu's bridal chamber Huazhuye, and then robbed the woman. Thinking about it carefully, she didn't seem to resist, and he kindly reminded him of the flower thief. It shouldn't be like that.

Nangong Yiwu patted his forehead and smiled bitterly.

A young man dressed in bright yellow brocade walked in, surrounded by a group of friends and friends, and looked around the room. Seeing that the food on Rao Tu's table had not yet been served, his eyes fell on her light and thin back, not looking at her. Her face, just by looking at her blue hair and her graceful waist, you can tell she is a beauty without a doubt.

Brother Gongzi smiled playfully, "Yo, which girl is this? Would you mind taking a seat with my brother?"

A dude beside him smiled and said, "Little lady, you've had a great luck today, and you've been spotted by Zhou Gongzi and have dinner at the same table. If you can talk about it, maybe... you can go to Zhou Gongzi's house to talk, if you can talk about it again. It's not impossible to have a detailed discussion on Zhou Gongzi's bed because of fate."

Rao Tu has always turned her back to the gangsters, paying no attention to the teasing, just taking a careful look at the jade wine gourd on the table. Those people just thought they were shy little girls who had never seen the world. They were so frightened that they didn't dare to turn their heads, and they laughed more and more unscrupulously.

Nangong Yiwu stood up, nodded and smiled at the young master Zhou: "Brother Zhou also came to eat hot pot?"

The young man surnamed Zhou squinted his eyes, and his eyes showed undisguised contempt. He naturally knew Nangong Yiwu in front of him, but even if he knew that he was the only grandson of Nangong Rumu, a great scholar in the Imperial College, he did not take it to heart. .

Guozijian is the Qingshui Yamen, even if he is a great scholar in Guozijian, he is only a dignified third-rank official position, but this young master surnamed Zhou is Zhou Heng, the young son of Zhou Jilian, a servant of the central government. He relied on his father's official hat to make a fortune in the capital. Why did he care about the grandson of a Confucian scholar in the Imperial College?

Zhou Heng didn't speak, and the friends around him started booing again. "Isn't this Young Master Nangong? Why, did you ask about this shop?"

Nangong Yiwu smiled and was not angry. He pointed his chin at Ratu, and reminded kindly: "This sister is not very easy to offend, everyone should be careful."

Zhou Hengyi instructed and pushed Nangong Yiwu's shoulder, and said impatiently, "You get up and get out of the way, and I will discuss it with this little lady."

Nangong Yiwu smiled and said, "Are you sure you don't want to discuss it with me, you want to discuss it with her?"