The days passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was almost the Dragon Boat Festival.
In this period of time, no matter how hard Gu Mang tried, he still lost a lot of his memories like sand between his fingers. There were some things that he remembered clearly today, but when Mo Xi mentioned them the next day, he would find that he had no impression of them. This undoubtedly made Mo Xi very uncomfortable. Every time he saw Gu Mang sitting in the study, reading a thick stack of letters with the help of a green lamp, he would feel very distressed.
Although he had not seen those letters, he knew that they were all things that Gu Mang did not want to forget. Every day, Gu Mang would read them from beginning to end. He had done his best, but he still could not keep their shared past.
But other than that, the other situations were quite comforting. Gu Mang's body was gradually recovering. His spiritual sense was also quite clear. The Black Demon aura in his body also showed no signs of being unable to be suppressed.
In any case, he could still live peacefully for a while.
On the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, Jun Shang sent someone to deliver a secret letter. When the letter was delivered, the two of them were brewing a jar of green plum wine together in the courtyard. Mo Xi opened the letter and glanced at it.
"… Jun Shang gave it to you."
Gu Mang bit a plump green plum between his red lips. Hearing this, he was startled. He pointed at himself, "Me?"
"See for yourself."
Gu Mang curled his tongue and sucked the plum into his soft mouth. A small bump appeared on his right cheek. He looked very cute. He lowered his eyelashes and carefully read the letter. Finally, with the plum in his mouth, he said vaguely, "… Oh."
Ever since Jun Shang met Mo Xi that day, he had been ill for several days. Later, perhaps because his illness was too serious, he could not meet with other officials. Or perhaps because Jun Shang did not know how to face Gu Mang. What should he say? He sent Gu Mang to the execution platform of the Black Demon Trial, but Gu Mang had always kept their secret. It was obvious how ashamed Jun Shang was.
She raised her azure eyes and smiled bitterly. "He invited me to the War Spirit Mountain to offer sacrifices."
"I saw it." Mo Xi paused. "Are you going?"
"I'm not going."
"You don't want to see him?"
"I think I know what he will say to me. In fact, both of us are doing these things for our own purposes. But when he sees me, he will inevitably have a deep affection for me, and I will have to cooperate and shed tears."
As she said this, she picked a green plum from the bamboo basket next to her and stuffed it into her mouth. She muttered, "Other than being sad, nothing can change."
Mo Xi did not speak immediately. He knew the pain in Gu Mang's heart.
In fact, Gu Mang hated the identity of a "traitor". It was like this when he lost his consciousness, and it was even more so now.
He remembered a night not long ago when there was a sudden downpour. Lightning flashed and thunder roared. Gu Mang used to sleep in the main bedroom, but that night, he suddenly put on a thin undergarment, ran out of the rain to the side room, and burrowed into Mo Xi's arms.
He was sleeping soundly at that time. Suddenly, a wet body shrank into his quilt, completely waking him up. Then he saw Gu Mang's pale face, shivering and clinging to his chest. Mo Xi was shocked and anxious. He asked him what was wrong and if he was feeling unwell.
Gu Mang just shook his head. He was freezing and his lips were purple. He said, "I'm dreaming. There are ghosts chasing after me. "
This lone wolf stuck close to Mo Quench, curled up in Mo Quench's warm embrace. He couldn't help but sob as he said, "They're all chasing me … Mo Quench, they want my life."
Usually, Gu Mang was not afraid of ghosts and gods. But that night, in the angry thunder and desolate rain, he seemed so real and fragile when he woke up from his dream.
Gu Mang, who was biting the plum, felt uncomfortable being stared at by Mo Xi. He looked sideways and said, "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
Mo Xi was silent for a while and said, "I'm sorry. I still can't clear your name. But if you want to go to War Spirit Mountain to pay your respects, I can also — "
Before he could finish, Gu Mang interrupted him.
"I'm not going."
"…"
"No matter what, I was the one who killed those people, and I was the one who attacked those cities. My hands are stained with the blood of too many innocent people. Eight years ago, when I was still innocent, I already said goodbye to my brothers. Now, I don't want to go there again. "
Mo Xi suddenly raised his head. His eyes were filled with sorrow. "You were forced to stain your hands with blood when you were protecting them."
"Other people don't think so. Whoever kills them has to pay with his life. Otherwise, what else can I do? Many people hated me for eight to five years because their sons, husbands, and fathers died by my hands. They wanted to bring me to justice day and night and make me pay with blood. Then suddenly one day, you tell them that it's not true. Gu Mang was forced. He shouldn't be a prisoner but a hero — who do you think will believe that? "
When Gu Mang said these words, his expression was indifferent, like a cup of wine that had been warmed just right. "Mo Que, have you ever thought that if you take away their most direct target to vent their anger on, those people will break down? They won't let me go just because I explain the truth … It's easy to hate someone, but it's hard to let go. You and I are both people who have walked on the battlefield. You should know this. "
"I'm not going to War Spirit Mountain. Whether it's Jun Shang or you, I won't go there again. " As Gu Mang said this, he raised his head and looked in the direction of War Spirit Mountain. There was still the faint fragrance of plums in his mouth, but his throat was sour. He sighed.
"In the eyes of the living, I'm already notorious. But if I don't go to War Spirit Mountain, at least in the hearts of those 70,000 dead comrades, I'll still be that clean Gu Mang with a clear conscience."
"That's enough."
Thus, they rejected Jun Shang. But in the end, they didn't close their doors and spend a peaceful Dragon Boat Festival in Xi He's residence.
Because on the day before the festival, they received an invitation from a second person.
"Who is it this time?"
Mo Xi said, "Jiang Yexue. He asked if we'd like to go to his house and make dumplings with him. "
"Ah." Gu Mang was slightly surprised, his eyes widening. "He invited you?"
"He invited both of us."
Gu Mang smiled. "He doesn't mind that I'm a bad person."
"Have you forgotten?" Mo Xi rolled up Jiang Yexue's letter and gently knocked it on Gu Mang's forehead twice. "He helped me fix Wang Jian. He saw my reaction at that time. You're no longer a traitor in front of him. He's always been very smart. Even though no one explained the cause and effect to him, I think he should have guessed most of it. "
"…" Gu Mang didn't utter a word.
Mo Xi ruffled his hair. "Go, you haven't had fun with others for a long time. Do you miss Brother Jiang? "
Gu Mang nodded.
"Brother Jiang must miss Marshal Gu very much. It was that little lunatic who had played the song "A Male Phoenix Seeking Female Phoenix" for him at his wedding. He must be very happy that you're coming. "
Gu Mang lowered his soft and long eyes, as if the past had been pried open, revealing the grievances that he had been suppressing. At that moment, Mo Xi saw that Gu Mang's eyes were a little red.
Jiang Yexue's private residence was in a quiet and secluded corner in the north of the city. It was the small courtyard that Mo Xi had given him when he got married. After so many years, he was now the Great Elder of the academy. His salary was high, but he had always been thrifty and was a nostalgic person, so he had never changed.
During the Duan Yang Festival, the streets were filled with people sprinkling realgar, selling sachets, and waving calamus leaves to ward off evil spirits. In order to avoid being noticed, Mo Xi and Gu Mang came in a carriage. When they arrived at the Jiang residence, they couldn't help but be startled.
They had thought that Jiang Yexue would be alone at home, but unexpectedly, before they even entered the house, they heard two young people laughing and playing.
The young man spoke first, "I'm not a monster. Even if you sprinkle realgar wine on me, it won't work."
Then came an even more childish voice, followed by a series of giggles. It was a young girl who sounded to be only seven or eight years old. She said softly, "Then why don't you sprinkle wine on me? I'll see if I'm a monster."
Turning around the screen wall, they saw that the small courtyard was already hung with mugwort leaves, cattail leaves, and lanterns. The two people playing were one older and one younger. The older one was wearing a white robe with golden edges. Her hair was braided with a golden hairband, and her forehead was decorated with gold, silver, and emerald beads. She had a plum blossom pouch woven with colorful silk at her waist. She was Yue Chenqing.
The younger one, on the other hand, was a girl wearing a five-poison colored robe. Her arm was tied with a five-colored silk pendant made of Yan Sheng. She held a small paper kite in the shape of a centipede in her hand. Yue Chenqing was using realgar to draw the word "Wang" on her forehead.
She heard footsteps and turned her head. When she saw Gu Mang, she couldn't help but be happy. "Aiya! Big brother! "
It turned out that this little girl was none other than Lord Changfeng's crazy daughter. Gu Mang didn't expect to meet the two of them at Jiang Yexue's residence. He couldn't help but be surprised and a little helpless. "Xiao Lan'er … why are you here?"
"Sir asked me to come. I've been staying at his house recently." Xiao Lan'er was still shy and timid, but she looked much more cheerful than before. She opened Yue Chenqing's hand and jumped in front of Gu Mang like a rabbit. "Sir said that big brother would come to celebrate the Duanyang Festival with us today. I thought he was just joking. I didn't expect it to be true!"
Yue Chenqing also looked like she knew they would come. She smiled and nodded. "Lord Xi He, Gu … uh …" He didn't know how to address Gu Mang. Calling him by his name was definitely out of the question. Gu Mang had touched Lord's reverse scale. If he called him big brother, it would sound like he was in the same generation as Mo Xi. Thus, after thinking for a moment, he smiled and said, "Martial Uncle Gu."
Mo Xi was rather surprised. "You're also here to celebrate the festival with Brother Jiang?"
"Yes."
"Then your father …"
"Sigh, don't mention it. I wanted to invite big brother back home to celebrate the Duanyang Festival. In the end, I only tried once before I was scolded by my father. He told me not to hang out with —" Yue Chenqing paused and glanced at the inner courtyard. She lowered her voice. "He told me not to hang out with dubious people."
After that, she hurriedly added, "Lord Xi He, please don't mind. My father is that kind of person. In addition, his health has been getting worse recently. He always loses his temper and is paranoid. He even scolds me very badly. Uncle and I have discussed it. After these busy days, we'll take him to the Hun Tian Cave in the old fief to recuperate. If his health is better, his words won't be so unpleasant. "
Mo Xi said, "You're finally willing to recognize him as your big brother?"
Yue Chenqing was a little embarrassed. She scratched her head. "Big brother Jiang is a very good person. He treats me and Fourth Uncle well. The Yue Clan treated him like this, but he never said anything bad about the Yue Clan. I used to listen to rumors and treat him like that. It's my fault."
Gu Mang was squatting at the side and playing with Xiao Lan'er while listening to Yue Chenqing's narration. At this time, he raised his head and looked at her with a smile. "He must be very happy that you're willing to recognize him and accompany him. He told us before that it would be great if we could have some relatives to visit during the festival. You, Murong Chuyi, it would be great if you could accompany him. "
Upon hearing Murong Chuyi's name, Yue Chenqing's eyes dimmed.
"Fourth Uncle, he … Don't talk about big brother Jiang. He hasn't been very good to me recently. I heard from the people in the residence that Fourth Uncle seems to want to move out of the Yue Clan and live alone. "
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