At the end of the first year, Gu Yun was still at the northwest border. The whole territory of Daliang was gloomy and gloomy, ready to be destroyed at any time.
This year, the whole country came back to life with an amazing vitality. Although the singing and dancing of the past could not be seen, the monkey children lining up in the streets to buy caramel candy were wearing new clothes one after another. A few firecrackers could be heard during the day. Every household was busy preparing for the New Year.
The collapsed city walls rose up once again, and the Forbidden Sky Net on the Bright Prayer Altar also opened up a strict line of sight. Rows of Rainbow Iron Bows and silent Iron Puppets on the wall watched as the uninvited guests entered the city. The North Military Camp escorted them and stopped outside the Nine Gates. The silence was like a spirit that had been tempered by blood and fire.
This year was full of ups and downs. Just this merit of reviving the dead would be written in the annals of history in the future, Prince Yan.
The barbarian prince's carriage slowly passed through the long street. The biting cold wind lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, vaguely revealing a thin and pale face. Then, a hand reached out from the carriage and pulled the curtain, blocking the two sides from spying on each other.
At this time, Gu Yun was sitting on the Wangnan Tower in casual clothes. There was a glass mirror on the bridge of his nose. It was not the one he usually used when he was blind. It was a kind of clairvoyance used for long-distance aiming on the battlefield.
Changgeng and Shen Yi were both there. A moment later, the door of the private room was pushed open and a figure flashed in. It was Cao Chunhua, whose whereabouts were a mystery after the Jiangbei incident.
After Cao Chunhua entered the room, he simply bowed and sat down, "I'm so thirsty."
Changgeng habitually took a big bowl and filled it with wine. Cao Chunhua took it without blushing and drank it in one gulp. Those who did not know would probably think that he was pouring cold water. Gu Yun, the drunkard, was stunned. He felt that he had met a drunkard.
"Another bowl." Cao Chunhua sighed comfortably. "After I parted ways with Marshal in the capital, I went all the way back to the north. I followed him all the way through wind, frost, rain, and snow. It can be said that I suffered a lot."
Cao Chunhua was very skilled in the art of disguise since he was young. He learned to speak foreign languages and could blurt them out in ten days or half a month. He was sent by Changgeng to hide at the border of Beijiang for a long time. He was called back because he needed a perfect substitute when he went to Jiangbei to investigate a case.
Cao Chunhua took the second bowl of wine and winked at Gu Yun, who was a little greedy. He successfully evoked Gu Yun's unbearable memory of "this person twisted his waist while wearing Changgeng's face".
Gu Yun silently patted away the goosebumps and looked away with a pale face.
Changgeng: "Why are you in such a sorry state?"
"Don't mention it. Including the male and female slaves, there were a team of masters. I couldn't even get within a mile of them. I had to crawl and roll while chasing after them." Cao Chunhua said in a sweet and delicate voice, "Alas, to tell you the truth, when I was in Beijiang, I once sneaked into Calais Yinghou's guards. I even pretended to be the second prince's favorite female slave and wandered around in front of him for a day and a night without being discovered. However, in the past year, I have never gotten close to the third prince. I haven't even seen his real face."
Changgeng asked, "When he goes out, you can't even see him from afar?"
"He doesn't go out at all. The 18 tribes all say that the third prince has a terrible disease and can't be exposed to the wind," Cao Chunhua sighed and said, "Other than Calais Yinghou himself, no one else can see him. The third prince himself is forbidden by the 18 tribes. His residence is guarded by three layers of guards. I tried to sneak into the outermost layer and was able to get in, but I couldn't get past the second layer. The people inside are like iron puppets. They don't communicate with each other, but they are all top masters and men of sacrifice.
As Cao Chunhua pointed with his chopsticks, everyone looked over and saw the middle-aged man turn around and talk to the guard. He didn't look amazing, but there was an indescribable temperament about him. He was as strong as a mountain.
Cao Chunhua said, "That person is Calais Yinghou's personal guard captain. He is one of his most important confidants. He is very powerful. I won't mistake him for someone else."
Everyone present was taken aback.
Shen Yi frowned and said, "If that's the case, General Cai Bin's information may not be accurate. The usurpation of the throne may be a show of internal strife for us to see. The hostages sent this time may not come with good intentions."
Gu Yun didn't say anything. He suddenly had a feeling of extreme uneasiness.
The two countries were at war, so it was conceivable that the arrival of this group of hostages and envoys would not be treated with any courtesy. The Third Prince's party did not even have a decent person to receive them. Li Feng's order to the Honglu Temple was to "do as you see fit". The Honglu Temple official really understood the Emperor's order and hastily placed the barbarian hostages in an envoys' station to dry under the sun. On the day they moved in, the capital's internal defense was updated. The newly formed Imperial Guards surrounded the station with three layers inside and outside. They changed shifts every hour and patrolled twelve times a day.
Everything in those two days was unusual. First, there was a strange and mysterious hostages from the barbarian tribe. Then, Changgeng fell ill at an untimely time. He actually had a fever after being exposed to a cold wind.
Changgeng practiced martial arts all year round. He knew some medical skills and was very good at maintaining his health. He was only in his twenties. Normally, strong winds wouldn't be able to hurt him. But that day, he didn't know what happened. He had a fierce fever. Gu Yun rushed back from Beidaying in the middle of the night. Changgeng had already taken medicine and was lying down. His cheeks were a little red from the fever.
Gu Yun touched Chang Geng's forehead and lay down next to him. No matter whether he came home or not, Chang Geng would always take up half of the bed. Even if he had nightmares, he would always sleep well and never roll around.
Gu Yun was afraid that Changgeng had a high fever at night, so he didn't dare to sleep soundly. Therefore, he immediately woke up when the person beside him moved. He reached out and touched Changgeng's body. He felt that Changgeng's body was as hot as burning charcoal and his breathing was very rapid.
It was normal for Changgeng to have nightmares at night. Gu Yun was already used to it. Most of the time, as long as he reached out in a daze to comfort Changgeng, he would calm down by himself. But this night, probably because he was sick, Changgeng's face suddenly showed a painful expression. He instinctively grabbed Gu Yun's wrist. His five fingers clasped tightly and he groaned unbearably. No matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't wake up. Gu Yun could only reach out and pinch a silver needle from the small medicine bag at the head of the bed. He pressed down on Changgeng and gently pricked his wrist.
Changgeng trembled violently and woke up.
Gu Yun's pupils contracted slightly. He had double pupils.
But compared to the chaos caused by Wu 'er Gu's attack last time, Changgeng was obviously more restrained this time. He didn't make any excessive movements and just stared blankly at Gu Yun. His eyes were slightly red.
Gu Yun called out to him in fear, "Changgeng, do you still recognize me?"
Changgeng blinked quickly. A layer of cold sweat rolled down his eyelashes. He said hoarsely, "Why are you … back?"
As he spoke, the double pupils in his eyes slowly merged into one. The red mark also gradually disappeared, as if it was just Gu Yun's illusion. Gu Yun kissed him, wiped his sweat and coaxed him to sleep. In the end, she was still worried. The next morning, she sent someone to the palace to give him sick leave. Then, she found Chen Qingxu.
"It's nothing," Miss Chen diagnosed after taking a look, "His Highness is in good health. It's just that the weather has changed a bit recently and he's slightly cold. Two doses of medicine should be enough."
Changgeng smiled and said, "I said so too. He didn't believe me and even made a fuss over a small issue and troubled Miss Chen."
Although Miss Chen said those words coldly and politely as usual, in her heart, she really didn't want to see King Yan's complacent face anymore. Even a newlywed who had just given birth to her first child wouldn't be as complacent as him.
Unable to bear it any longer, Miss Chen bid farewell to the two in an ethereal manner. Gu Yun personally sent her out. When they passed through the long and cold corridor of the marquis fu, Gu Yun suddenly said in a low voice, "I didn't invite Miss Chen here today to see if he caught a cold. Last night, when he had a fever, his double pupils suddenly appeared in his eyes. I feel a bit uneasy."
Chen Qingxu immediately became serious and frowned, "Marquis, please explain in detail."
Gu Yun recounted the scene of Changgeng suddenly having a seizure and immediately waking up. She asked, "What do you think is the situation?"
After listening, Chen Qingxu muttered to herself for a long time. She lowered her eyes slightly, as if she was carefully recalling the pulse just now. When Gu Yun was a little nervous, she said, "His Highness has a firm will. It's really admirable."
Gu Yun immediately reacted, "You're saying that his current clear-headedness is completely suppressed by his will. Yesterday, he was muddled by the fever, so he showed it for a while?"
Chen Qingxu nodded, "His Highness has been tortured by Wu 'er Gu since he was young. He should be used to it. Even when he's asleep, he still retains some clear-headedness. I'm just worried … He's now young, strong, and full of energy. In the future, when he grows older and his physical strength gradually declines, will he still have this kind of spirit?"
Gu Yun thought of something and asked doubtfully, "Then according to what you said, Miss Chen, once he's sick, injured, or mistakenly takes some medicine that makes him delirious, will he have this kind of symptom?"
Chen Qingxu, "Logically speaking, it depends on whether the situation is serious or not."
"But there's one thing I don't quite understand," Gu Yun said, "A while ago, he was injured in Jiangbei. I was the one who went to pick him up. At that time, he lost too much blood from the wound and was unconscious for a day and a night. However, he was very stable in the middle. Not only did Wu 'er Gu not act up, he didn't even seem to have the symptoms of being awakened by nightmares."
Chen Qingxu was suddenly stunned.
Gu Yun, "Miss Chen?"
Chen Qingxu murmured, "Impossible, so could it be his Qi and blood … Did I completely misunderstand?"
Gu Yun's head was filled with fear and confusion.
Chen Qingxu did not explain. It was as if she had opened up her conception and governing vessels. She turned around and left without saying a word.
Gu Yun, "Hey … Miss Chen …"
"Let me think about it." After Chen Qingxu said this, her feet did not touch the ground as she floated away. In the blink of an eye, she was already several feet away and disappeared in an instant.
Shen Yi, who happened to be visiting, was originally chattering non-stop with Huo Dan about Gu Yun. When she walked in from the main entrance, she was breathless for a while. Commander Huo was thinking about how to get rid of this person, but before he could think of a way, Shen Yi suddenly shut up without warning.
Huo Dan looked up and saw a white figure floating in front of his eyes like a ghost. General Shen stood like an indomitable wooden plank and said very sparingly, "Miss Chen."
Chen Qingxu was a person of few words, so she also replied very sparingly, "General Shen."
After the two greeted each other, they stared at each other for a while. Only then did Shen Yi realize that she was blocking the way. She hurriedly retreated to the side in fear and trepidation, "Miss Chen, please!"
Chen Qingxu originally thought that he had something to say. She looked at him inexplicably and then walked away like a white wind.
Commander Huo pulled his ears and led a strange and mute General Shen to Gu Yun.
Gu Yun responded and changed Changgeng's ice bag. The ice bag made him grimace in pain. Only then did she go out to receive the guest, "What's the matter?"
Yi had not yet recovered from his silent meditation. He watched Gu Yun's mind wander without saying a word.
Gu Yun was very surprised. She turned to ask Huo Dan, "What's wrong with him?"
Huo Dan guessed, "He suddenly can't speak. Maybe Doctor Chen gave him a mute drug."
Shen Yi came to find Gu Yun for a serious matter.
Shen Yi said, "The Emperor has been waiting for the barbarian envoys for a few days. He planned to meet the barbarian envoys at this year's palace banquet and give them a show of strength. However, the barbarians are skilled in witchcraft. He is afraid that there are still remnants of the barbarian women left behind. In order to prevent the Imperial Guards from rebelling on the altar of prayer, the defense of the palace will be jointly handled by the Beidaying Guards, the Imperial Guards and the newly formed Imperial Guards.
Gu Yun nodded. Li Feng was once bitten by a snake, twice shy.
This year's palace banquet was so grand that it was almost luxurious. It was a show of strength. The guards on both sides were strict. The generals were all wearing armor and carrying swords. They stood on both sides. Even their own people felt that they had entered a Hongmen banquet.
Gu Yun also saw for the first time the legendary barbarian Third Prince, who could be blown to death by a gust of wind.
The boy was about fourteen or fifteen years old. He looked very delicate, but his face was pale and his expression was wooden. He didn't raise his eyes from beginning to end. Everything he did needed his attendants to remind him. He was led to the front of the Emperor as if he couldn't walk.
The envoy said to Li Feng, "Emperor Daliang, please forgive him. The Third Prince is congenitally deficient. If there is anything that was rude during the banquet, please forgive him on account that he is only a child."
Li Feng waved his hand and asked them to rise. However, the boy turned a deaf ear. It was as if he didn't understand official language.
The envoy bent down and coaxed him in a low voice. The Third Prince was still wooden and ignorant. The envoy held his hand and half supported and half carried him to the banquet.
Gu Yun's hearing was very good. She keenly heard someone whispering next to her, "Is the Third Prince a fool?"
What did Calais Yinghou mean by sending his foolish son to the capital as a hostage?
Gu Yun and Shen Yi looked at each other from a distance. Both of their expressions were a little dignified. Perhaps he was thinking too much, but Gu Yun always felt that there was something creepy about the boy.
At this time, the exchange of official language between Li Feng and the barbarians came to an end. The barbarian envoy suddenly said, "Before I came from my hometown, I heard that there are two people under the Emperor of Daliang that I have to pay a visit to. One of them is the undefeated great hero Gu Marquis. I have the honor of meeting him today. However, there is another one … I don't think he is in the banquet?"
Li Feng asked, "Who is the envoy talking about?"
Bei Man's envoy smiled and said, "It is the young leader of the six divisions of your country. His Royal Highness Yan Wang is quite related to my tribe."
The corners of Gu Yun's eyes twitched slightly.
Li Feng looked around. Changgeng was indeed not in the banquet. Thus, he asked the people around him, "Where is Ah Min?"
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