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Chapter 183
16. Lovesickness and dreams in vain, sick bones, like wind catkins
Li Han just lived in the palace.
However, since he came to be punished, how could Xia Yao make him feel better.Don't even think about asking him to follow the normal work and rest hours of ordinary handymen in the palace - Pei Nianyu's working hours are all in accordance with the labor laws of later generations.
Of course, Xia Yao is very conscientious, following the order of the prince, she does everything she can to find trouble for Li Han:
Sprinkle the water he brought from the water house, whip him; chop wood slowly, whip him; the flower he was tending in the flower bed lost a leaf, whip him...
Pei Nianyu would come to meddle occasionally, either to find an excuse to kick him, to whip him, or to swear casually.
But every time Pei Nianyu came out to poke him like this, seeing his obedience without resistance, he walked away quickly.
Pei Nianyu felt a little disgusted with his mentality: He wanted to see Li Han suffering more to relieve his anger, but when he stared at him, he quickly couldn't bear to watch.
But Lin Han has never used his internal strength to resist these scattered beatings.No matter how Xia Yao has no power to restrain the chicken, the snake whip is real.After accumulating like this every day, Lin Han's coat has long been shredded.
Although Xia Yao later sent him new clothes for him to change into, his chest and back were already scratched a lot.
In addition to the first time Pei Nianyu used internal energy to slap him, he never used internal energy to heal his wounds.Internal and external injuries were superimposed day after day, and Li Han gradually felt that his body was not as brisk and sharp as before.
The blood stasis in the lungs is blocked in the chest, and I usually have some chest tightness and shortness of breath, and I have never dealt with various traumas by myself.He didn't use the bedding he brought, and when it was cold at night, he felt pain in his wound.
The only thing that is not so uncomfortable is the attitude of the people in the palace.In the few days before he came, both the servants and the shadow guards came to see him having fun.But after he stayed in the palace for more than ten days, everyone was no longer curious about this thin man wearing a mask.And interest justice.
Moreover, the rules of the people in the palace are a bit strange, and most of the time their words and deeds are a little casual. For example, He Qi does not prohibit the shadow guards from watching the scene, but at the same time, no one really insults him.Later, Li Han accidentally heard the discussion of the two maids in the outer court - humiliating servants was strictly prohibited by the prince in the mansion a long time ago.
……………
Gradually entering late autumn, the wind in Capital City is getting colder and colder day by day.
One day, Li Han was in the backyard holding a piece of cloth, kneeling on the ground to wipe the stone steps in front of the door.It rained patteringly all night yesterday, but today the wet stone steps are even more bone-piercing when kneeling.
The task Li Han was given was to wipe the steps dry to prevent the prince from accidentally falling while walking.
While wiping, he suddenly couldn't help coughing twice.He hurriedly covered his mouth with his sleeve, but saw two shallow bloodstains on the sleeve.
Li Han was slightly startled, knowing that the cold evil might have entered his lungs.His movements gradually slowed down, and he began to silently calculate how much time he had left to live.
He didn't expect to live a little longer or live a little less, anyway, he was atonement with his life, and it wasn't the last moment.
Li Han secretly took out a black pouch from his arms, and stroked it gently with his hands.Inside the purse were the master's two black hairs, which he carefully rolled up and put inside.
His already lifeless eyes gradually became soft and nostalgic.
In fact, it was a bit risky for him to take away the owner's hair that day.He was afraid that his master would notice his despicable, invisible thoughts.
But he is already a dying person, and in the end, there is only this little bit of delusional thinking left in this life, let him think about this remaining life with this little thought.
Li Han was in a daze for a while, Xia Yao turned around from the other end of the corridor, saw this, immediately flicked the whip, and shouted:
"How dare you hide away!"
Li Han quickly put away the purse, Xia Yao also pretended not to see the purse.Having stayed in the deep palace for a long time, she certainly knows how cruel it is to take people's thoughts.There are some things that should be left to others, and they still need to be kept.
She only raised her eyebrows:
"Being lazy in your work, I will punish you for wiping all the stone steps in the yard before you are allowed to leave."
"Yes, my servant understands."
Li Han didn't dry all the stone steps until after noon.He put down the rag and was about to walk towards the dining room when he suddenly remembered that it was already past the meal time in the dining room.
There will definitely not be any food left for him.The meals that are kept warm in the dining room are prepared for the shadow guards who are on duty at night or come back from work.Of course not for him.
Thinking of this, he turned around and went back to the backyard.It's just a meal, it doesn't matter if you don't eat it.
Unexpectedly, after a while, a black-clothed shadow guard suddenly fell from the eaves of the backyard, walking towards him.
Li Han raised his eyebrows, this is the first time a shadow guard from the palace came to talk to him:
"I don't know what orders the adults have?"
The shadow guard scratched his head, smiled a little foolishly, and handed him a greased paper bag.
"Brother, I saw that you missed your meal, so I brought you some steamed stuffed buns from the dining room."
Li Han didn't take the oiled paper bag, but shook his head and said:
"Do you know who I am? I made a big mistake, and your master hates me to the bone. If you let your master know what you did, you will definitely not be able to escape punishment."
The shadow guard obviously didn't know about Li Han, so he just whispered:
"This... as long as the master doesn't know that I've been here, it's fine?"
Lin Han thought in his heart, why are all the shadow guards in the palace so virtuous?Excessive kindness and sympathy for others, and trying to deceive the prince... What kind of tricks are these!
He didn't realize that, in a way, he was scolding himself too.At this moment, he had only one thought: These boys really owed discipline!
Li Han's eyebrows under the mask suddenly frowned, and his narrow eyes were like lightning, looking at the shadow guard who said something wrong.
"Is this how you learned the rules of the shadow guards in your mansion?"
The little shadow guard was obviously still young, and suddenly he felt a terrifying majesty rising from the person in front of him.This man was obviously a hard labor prisoner in shackles, but he had only seen such a long-standing power in him from their Lou Jiaoxie.
The little shadow guard was taken aback immediately, and put the oil-paper bag on the ground. After saying a few words, he jumped up to the roof and disappeared in an instant:
"I put the buns here for you. Don't waste your food. When people ask you, just say that I didn't put the buns, but it grew legs and came here!"
Li Han almost laughed angrily at him.However, he looked at the oiled paper bag on the ground and encountered another difficulty.
This person is right about at least one thing, food should not be wasted.Of course he also knew this truth, this is what the master has told all the palace people by ear.
He also knows why - every year, the records of grain harvest, storage, and grain road conditions in various places have been reviewed in his hands.He knew how much effort his master had put into it.
Sure enough, what the master and the prince taught are exactly the same.
Thinking about coming to this mansion, there is no one else who is short of food, and there is no greedy pet dog, only a little black cat who doesn't eat buns.Li Han didn't know what to do, he picked up the oiled paper bag on the ground and ate it.
After eating, he realized that there are three kinds of fillings in the four buns.
And for some reason, Xia Yao, who was wandering around the backyard just now, disappeared again.
……………
Li Han thought that his health would get worse day by day, but Xia Yao saw him coughing up blood that day, so she didn't arrange work for him after that, she just shirked that she was too busy to take care of him.
So he was able to breathe for a long time.
After that, Pei Nianyu and Xia Yao did not intensify their efforts to train him.Xia Yao's side sometimes loosened and sometimes tightened. Seeing that his physical condition was different, she let him wait for a few days, and only arranged for new work when he recovered a little.
A few more days passed in this loose and tight way, and the food in the palace was first-class after all. Although Li Han's body was not fully recovered, he slowly recovered some vitality.
Li Han knew that the prince was soft-hearted, and he might not be able to do something like torture people to death.But if this continues, when will he die?
Originally, he still held a little bit of hope, he thought, if the master came to the palace, maybe he could see the master again during his last days.
Unexpectedly, half a month passed, and there was no sign of the owner at all.Li Han pinched his fingers and counted, even the days when the master would come to the palace every month for lunch passed, but the master still didn't come.
Even, the master didn't have any contact with the prince anymore, and Li Han didn't see any shadow guards in the palace coming to send a note.
So Li Han knew that the master might not come before he died.
Realizing this, Li Han suddenly panicked.
Why doesn't the master come to the palace anymore?
Because... don't want to see him in the palace?
The master hated himself to the bone, or did the action before he left really let the master notice?
Taking advantage of no one around, Li Han quietly took out the black purse.He regretted it a little bit now, uncontrollably, the disgusted expression of the master when he found out his intention appeared in his mind——
A useless shadow guard, a criminal minister, dares to please me?At such an age, you don't even look in the mirror to see if you are worthy!
He closed his eyes in fear, and shoved the purse back tremblingly.
... Could it be that the master will come here again after he dies?
……………
Today, Pei Nianyu was invited to He Yanjun's cooking guild to talk about some common skills.As usual, Xia Yao did not arrange any work for Li Han.
This is another rule that Li Han found out: when the prince is in this courtyard, the tasks are hard and tiring, and he is often beaten.When the prince goes out, Xia Yao only arranges some usual work, and just finish it.
It's just that today he hasn't finished his normal work, Lou Yefeng came to him first:
"Did a shadow guard secretly deliver food to you before?"
Li Han nodded, thinking that as expected, all the big and small things in this mansion can't be hidden from this person.
Lou Yefeng raised his eyebrows:
"If you eat in violation of the rules, you will be fined to do one more job."
Li Han didn't know why he came to trouble him today for what happened many days ago, but Lou Yefeng almost lost all his martial arts in order to understand the Peach Blossom Gu, so he naturally felt a little guilty towards him.Then he said:
"It's up to the adults to order."
"Come with me."
Li Han followed Lou Yefeng for a while, only to realize that he had arrived at the martial arts training ground on the easternmost side of the palace.
There were more than a dozen shadow guards standing in a team in the arena. He glanced over and judged from the depth and age of the internal energy breathing skills that they should be newcomers who had just left the shadow guard camp.
The newcomer was indeed a newcomer, not calm enough, seeing this masked weirdo, they all looked sideways curiously.
Lou Yefeng said to the shadow guards:
"In the previous training, you both fed each other's moves and made little progress. Today, I invited a practitioner for you, and you take turns to come up and fight against him. Those who can win will be rewarded."
"Yes, this subordinate understands!"
Li Han was stunned.
Let yourself compete with these shadow guards?
The shackles on his hands and feet are really inconvenient to use martial arts, but... with moves like small grabbing hands, it's okay to barely deal with it.
No wonder only came to trouble him today, it turned out that could use him.
"You can use any weapon to compete in martial arts, regardless of life or death."
Others have weapons, but he doesn't, but Li Han is not afraid.
He Shi Shi ran onto the stage, and the first shadow guard had already stepped forward.Li Han clasped his fists and saluted:
"Please advise."
Before he could finish speaking, Jian Feng of the shadow guard on the opposite side had already rushed over.
Li Han secretly praised in his heart that it was not bad. Facing an unknown enemy, at least this person was full of murderous intent and vigor, and he was not a coward.
Then he used the iron chain in his hand to block the edge of the sword, twisted the sword with his backhand, and then cut across with his palm, attacking the back of the shadow guard's neck.
But after ten moves, the shadow guard lost.Li Han's last palm used three points of internal force, which caused him a little internal injury.
He secretly commented in his heart: The martial arts Lou Yefeng taught them is not bad, and they practiced them proficiently.
It's just... poor experience.The things taught in the shadow guard camp and the simulated actual combat are, after all, completely different from the real fights of various forces after leaving the camp.
Li Han tapped his toes and stepped back:
"Concession."
Lou Yefeng didn't seem surprised by this result, his face was expressionless:
"Go back and remember the moves he used just now, practice them well, and I will check them next month."
"Next."
Li Han tilted his head slightly, and glanced at Lou Yefeng.
Sure enough, he saw it.
Just now he used ten tricks, three of them, including the last one that won the victory, was Li Han's own unique technique, the ability to guard his family and save his life.
It is not a disappointment to pass it on to these shadow guards.
However, Lou Yefeng has higher attainments in martial arts than him, so it's hard for him to like him and not to dislike him.
second, third...
No shadow guard can beat him.
After the fight, these shadow guards also became determined to win and became angry.I just don't believe in evil - how come their shadow guards can't even beat a man in shackles?
So gradually the strike became heavier, and the moves became more ruthless.
However, the heavier the attack, the heavier the shock from Li Han's internal force.
Lou Yefeng frowned gradually, but not to Li Han, but to those shadow guards who were wounded:
"Have your brain been eaten by a pig? Go back and think about how you lost!"
The dozen or so shadow guards all lost, Lou Yefeng knew exactly what the problem was, and he didn't expect this group of rookies to win.
Lou Yefeng's purpose is also very clear: he has a different approach to martial arts than Li Han, and it will be helpful for these shadow guards to learn more and gain some experience.But Li Han will take out his own moves and teach them in the name of feeding moves. After all, he is the one who earned it.
After fighting like this for a few days, the shadow guards came in turn.The rookie shadow guards at the beginning were inexperienced and lost quickly. When the veteran shadow guards played later, they would be able to hold on longer.
But in the end, there was still no one who could beat Li Han.
Lou Yefeng knew that veteran shadow guards saw that Li Han's movements were inconvenient, and they didn't want to be invincible, so they didn't try their best when they attacked.But in the end, he was a little angry, squinted his eyes and walked opposite Li Han:
"You have won five days in a row and injured many shadow guards in my mansion. It seems that you are reminding me that I am not good at teaching—"
"Then let me come and experience it myself."
Li Han nodded, and still said those three words:
"Please advise."
The sleeves of the two people fluttered, and the palm wind suddenly rose.
Lou Yefeng originally only wanted to beat him in terms of moves, just to compromise his prestige.
Unexpectedly, the moment the winds of the palms intersected, Lou Yefeng's palm touched the opponent's palm, and he thought to himself: No good!
He actually withdrew all his internal energy and received his palm with his flesh and blood!
Lou Yefeng changed his move temporarily and quickly withdrew his internal energy, but it was too late, 50% of his internal energy still hit Li Han solidly.
I saw the person on the opposite side flew upside down like a rootless weed, and fell to the ground without making a sound.
Everyone in the training ground fell silent.
Lou Yefeng quickly waved his hand and said:
"Disband, each go back to practice."
How could the shadow guard dare to watch the bustle, he could run as far as he could in an instant.
Lou Yefeng flew forward, only to see Li Han's face was like gold paper, with large swaths of blood spilled on his chest.
He quickly put his two fingers under Li Han's nose, feeling that he was still alive.Just about to mention him, Li Han opened his eyes at this moment, and said two words with difficulty:
"Thanks……"
Then his eyes drooped, not knowing anything about personnel.
Lou Yefeng's throat choked up.
He knew what Li Han meant - thank him for helping him take this life.
but……
Lou Yefeng carried him with his lightness kung fu to the extreme, brought him back to his small woodshed, and put him down.
He took out a heart-protecting pill and fed it to Li Han, and then injected an inner force from the back of his heart to protect the heart vein.
Lou Yefeng thought to himself: I'm sorry, I'm afraid I will disappoint you.
Before leaving, he looked at the person lying in the woodpile, recalled the days of supporting each other in the shadow guard camp, and the ten years of friendship with colleagues after that, after all, he sighed heavily in his chest.
Li Han, whether you can survive or not depends on you.You yourself... have to hold on first.
……………
In the evening when Pei Nianyu returned to the palace, Lou Yefeng quickly told him about it.After speaking, he felt a little guilty facing his master, after all he knew that the master probably didn't want Li Han to die so soon.
In other words, he knew that the master didn't want to...
Pei Nianyu frowned, looking a little serious.But he shook his head first:
"It's not your fault. After all, you didn't expect it. What's more, that matter... He has failed you. It's okay if you attack him. Just take it out on you, don't take it to heart."
"...I'll go see him."
The two went to the firewood room together.Pei Nianyu pushed the door open and went in, only to find that Li Han was trembling all over, but he had already developed a high fever.
He seemed to wake up once in the middle, no longer the posture where Lou Yefeng put him leaning against the wall, but curled up in the corner of the wall, subconsciously turned his body to one side of the wall.
Pei Nianyu stepped forward and touched his forehead lightly, it was very hot.The hair on his forehead was wet with sweat, his whole body was shaking, his brows were tightly closed, his eyes were tightly closed, and he seemed to be muttering, but there was no sound, and he couldn't wake up.
The two observed carefully, only to find that he said the word "Master".
"..."
Pei Nianyu's heart suddenly became heavy.
A dying shadow guard, was he missing his master before he died?
He couldn't help thinking of the person beside him, if he...
And Lou Yefeng also had the same thought, he looked at Li Han, and thought that if I were myself, I would probably be thinking about the same thing before dying...
Both of them sighed together.
Pei Nianyu looked back, but suddenly found that something seemed to be protruding from Li Han's tightly clenched hands.If he didn't turn Li Han's body to try his forehead, he wouldn't even be able to find it.
It took him Strength of Nine Bulls and Two Tigers to open it with Li Han's cold fingers, but he saw a black purse.
Pei Nianyu thought to himself, before he died, he would hold this black purse. It was obviously an extremely important thing, so it's better not to take it apart.However, Lou Yefeng had already opened the purse first——
"It's two strands of hair."
The two looked at each other speechlessly.
"This……"
Whose hair strands belong to, obviously, there is no need to guess.
The last obsession in Li Han's heart is also clearly revealed.
Pei Nianyu was full of thoughts in an instant, and used mechanical movements to put the hair into the purse, gently stuffed it into Li Han's arms, and put it away.
Seeing that the quilt next to him didn't seem to have any traces of use, he sighed, shook off the quilt, and covered him.
Lou Yefeng's expression was serious:
"I fed him Baoxin Pill, but it can only be hanged for a few days. Master, if his internal injury is cured or not, you may have to..."
"—a decision has been made."
Pei Nianyu couldn't bear to look any more, turned around and went out with big strides:
"Save people first, let Lian Xiao feed him medicine."