"Bristling with anger, leaning against the railing, the drizzling rain rests. Looking up, I roar at the sky, my heart beating fiercely. Thirty achievements, dust and dirt, eight thousand miles of road, clouds and moon. Don't be idle, my young years turned white, empty sorrow! Jingkang's shame has yet to be avenged; when will the hatred of my subjects be extinguished? Driving a long chariot, breaking through the Helan Mountains. Aspiring to eat barbarian meat, laughing and drinking Xiongnu blood. Waiting to start from scratch, tidying up the old mountains and rivers, towards the heavens! "
At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng proclaimed himself emperor in Chang 'an in January. With Li Jiqian as the founder, he established the country as' Da Shun '. On the 19th day of the third month, the capital was breached. Emperor Chong Zhen hung himself in a mountain of coal and Li Zicheng gave him a 'ceremonial burial'. After entering the city, military discipline was good at first and won the hearts of the people. But from the 27th day onwards, Da Shun's army began arresting Ming officials and raiding their homes. They set the salary as' 100,000 for the central court, 70,000 for the imperial court, 50,000-30,000 for the imperial court, 50,000-30,000 for the imperial court, 30,000-10,000 for the imperial court, and thousands for the subordinates. ' The Ming general Wu Sangui couldn't stand the harsh rule and because his beloved concubine Chen Yuanyuan was kidnapped, he decided to side with Manchuria and opened up Shanhai Pass. The Qing army marched straight in and the battle never stopped. The Ming Dynasty was like an arrow at the end of its flight and was on the verge of collapse. The martial world was in turmoil and chaos. The common people suffered unspeakably and lived in constant fear.
Beside Jiangnan Lake, in the secluded forest, the verdant trees covered the sky and extended into the distance, casting a cool shade. Whether it was the scorching sun in the middle of summer or the bitter cold in the depths of winter, one could always feel the warmth of winter and the coolness of summer. It was suitable for all four seasons. The branches that stretched horizontally had their own features and one couldn't see the end of it, causing one's imagination to run wild. It truly lived up to its reputation of being a 'paradise'. Following the bamboo shoots was a mossy path. The winding path led to a secluded place, emitting the unique fragrance of grass in the forest, making passersby feel relaxed and happy.
At the end of the path, one could see a bluestone path laid out in a straight line. The view gradually widened. It turned out that Lin Jin was a paradise of its own. A manor was hidden in the middle of it, light and detached from worldly affairs. The overall layout was a large-scale, symmetrical, three-way structure with three levels of halls on each road. The architecture was exquisite. The flowerbeds were arranged in picturesque disorder, and the guest rooms were gorgeously decorated. The courtyard was paved with green tiles, and the courtyard walls were painted and whitewashed. It was quaint and elegant. The buildings in the middle road were divided into the main hall, the second hall, and the main hall. Each hall was separated by stone dams or inner walls. The tall brick courtyard walls were built with arches under the eaves, which appeared simple and heavy. As far as the eye could see, there was a plaque hanging high up in the air. It was painted in black and gold, and it complemented each other perfectly. The words "Shadowless Villa" were written on it. The strokes were bold and forceful, and it gave off a grand and imposing aura.
The interior of the manor was also a scene of peace and tranquility. There were pavilions and terraces, small bridges and flowing water, and the fragrance of flowers, which made the visitors suspect that they had unintentionally entered a paradise on earth. He couldn't help but tread lightly, afraid that he would disturb the fairy who was deep in thought.
There was a pavilion in the Outer Hall called the Pavilion of Snow Song. When they got closer, they heard a woman's voice that was as clear as a silver bell. She laughed and said, "I've noticed that Master's expression has been a bit strange recently. He's been gathering a group of servants and whispering all day long. It seems like he's planning something big. Miss, can you guess why he is doing this? "The other woman softly replied," How would I know? Since it is something father wants to do, he must have his reasons. How can we, young and inexperienced girls, care about it? Xiao Ping, don't make a fuss. "The voice was very gentle and pleasant to listen to, as if a stream of clear spring water was poured into the heart.
Xiao Ping giggled and said, "If you ask me, they must be discussing Miss' marriage. Originally, men and women should get married when they are of age. Moreover, Miss is born with a fairy-like appearance. Within a hundred li of this place, who can compare to … "The young lady was speechless for a long time. Xiao Ping became more energetic and said," According to my insight, although Miss doesn't admit it, in your heart, you still want to! There are only the two of us here, you can tell me quietly … "There was a rustling sound in the room, as if the two of them were playing lightly.
Suddenly the young lady said coquettishly, "Ah, ink is dripping on the painting. It's all your fault. See if I don't teach you a lesson! "Then there was a burst of laughter, until Xiao Ping laughed and said," Alright, alright, I beg for mercy! Miss, please let me go! Or wait for me to atone for my mistake and go find out the truth for you, how about that? "The young lady laughed and reprimanded," You're the one with a glib tongue! " Without waiting for her to answer, suddenly a respectful voice was heard from outside the door, "Miss, the master requests your presence."
The antique pear blossom wood door was pushed open from the inside with a creak. The young lady in front of her was dressed in pink, with only a little makeup on her face. She looked elegant and refined. She was the eldest young lady of the Shadowless Mountain Villa, Shen Shiyun. She usually liked to play the zither and play with ink. Her personality was gentle and quiet. However, the young lady's feelings often lingered in her heart, so she was curious about what Xiao Ping had said. If she hadn't followed her father to live in seclusion in the mountains since she was young, with her stunning beauty, she could be considered one of the top beauties in the capital. At this moment, when she heard Xiao Ping's words, her face unconsciously flushed. The maid beside her, Xiao Ping, was dressed in green, as lively as spring. She said proudly, "What do you think? I didn't lie to you, did I?" Shen Shiyun indeed had this intention in her heart, but she had to maintain a reserved manner. She pretended to be indifferent and said to the servant, "Alright, please report back to the master. I'll go over now."
Not long after, they arrived outside the main hall. Shen Shiyun's heart was thumping, but she didn't know what she was nervous about. Xiao Ping smiled and said, "That's right, why don't we go quietly? Maybe we can sneak in some secrets. Who knows if it's not the father-in-law who wants to see the son-in-law? The person who can match up to the young lady must be extraordinary. I'm really curious! "
Shen Shiyun followed her suggestion. Immediately the two of them walked quietly and approached the outer wall. They heard the sound of footsteps coming from inside the main hall. The sound was rather heavy, as if the person was irritated. Shen Shiyun listened attentively and gradually realized that there was more than one person walking. After hearing a few more sentences, she was even more surprised and said, "Eh, why are my eldest uncle and third uncle here too?" Xiao Ping smiled and said, "They must be very careful about this matter. They can't be careless …" Shen Shiyun frowned and made a "be quiet" gesture to stop her. She felt that things weren't that simple.
In the main hall, Third Manor Master said, "Second Brother has been living in seclusion for the past few years and doesn't care about the affairs of Jianghu. It's not strange that you haven't heard of those rumors. Now that the chaos of war has continued for many years, there are many factions in Jianghu that want to take advantage of the chaos to make a fortune. The Sacrificial Shadow Sect is very popular recently and they are extremely arrogant! In just a few years, many factions that have been famous for a long time have been wiped out by them. Humph, these bandits are very ambitious. They even took the most precious treasure of Jianghu, the Residual Shadow Sword, and called it the 'Cult Treasure'. Many righteous people are helpless and don't dare to say anything. But they secretly gnash their teeth and call them the 'Evil Cult'. "
First Manor Master continued, "The Residual Shadow Sword and the Tears of Broken Soul are equally famous. Rumor has it that if you have these two, you can rule the world. Since the Residual Shadow Sword is in the hands of the Evil Cult, everyone can only focus their attention on the Tears of Broken Soul. Sigh, the Evil Cult is really greedy. A few days ago, they sent a letter publicly saying that if they don't hand over the treasure, they will wash the manor with blood. Once they rule Jianghu, there will be no peace in the world! This is also what I am worried about. "
Third Manor Master thought for a while and said, "We can't care too much now. Second Brother, we don't want to get involved in the affairs of Jianghu. Protecting ourselves is the right thing to do!"
Second Manor Master Shen Aotian sighed and said, "Brothers, do you think that I don't want to give up the treasure? If I don't want to rule the world, what else can I do with it? So what if I give it to the Evil Cult? It's just that I have never seen this thing before! I don't know why there is such a ridiculous rumor that it is in Shadowless Mountain Villa. "
A disciple next to him held the hilt of his sword and said angrily, "The Evil Cult has done a lot of evil, and everyone has the right to punish them! I can set up a sword formation with my Martial Uncles to fight the enemy. We are not afraid of them! Although we have been living in seclusion for a long time, we are not easy to bully. We will let those bastards know that if they want to cause trouble for Shadowless Mountain Villa, they are seeking their own deaths! "
Shen Aotian shook his head and sighed. "Chen 'er, you have always been Shifu's favorite disciple. Now that Shadowless Mountain Villa is in trouble, Shifu doesn't want you to die in vain. You and your brothers should quickly leave this place! Where there is life, there is hope. In the future, there may be hope for revenge! "The disciple, Zou Chen, said," Shifu, I am willing to sacrifice my life for Shadowless Mountain Villa! "The other disciples also said," We are willing to fight until the last moment, even if we have to die ten thousand times! "
Shen Aotian looked around and saw that all the disciples were full of fighting spirit. None of them showed the slightest intention to retreat. He was touched and wrung his hands. He said, "You, you all … Ay! Fine, it is rare that you all have this kind of heart! That's right, where did Yun 'er go? Didn't I ask Old Yang to find her? "
Shen Shiyun could not restrain herself any longer. Ignoring Xiao Ping's obstruction, she pushed open the door and entered. Her demeanor as a young lady from a noble family had already been thrown to the back of her mind. She only said anxiously, "Father, what exactly is going on? Yun 'er does not understand a single word you said about the Sacrifice Shadow Sect and Soul Severing Tears! " Although she had grown up in a mountain villa, she had lived a leisurely life and had never experienced any hardships. She could tell that the situation was extremely dangerous just by relying on her intuition.
Shen Aotian did not answer. He walked to a corner of the hall and looked at a painting on the wall for a long time. It was a painting of mountains and rivers. Shen Shiyun had painted it when she was young. At that time, she had just learned it not long ago, so her technique was still very immature. Shen Shiyun followed her father's gaze and could not help but recall her childhood memories. She felt a lump in her throat and looked at the First and Third Manor Masters for help. She hoped that one of them could explain the truth to her. However, she only touched a touch of despair and helplessness. Her heart suddenly sank as if she had fallen into a whirlpool. Layers of ominous premonitions swept over her.
Shen Aotian stretched out his hand and took off the painting. Before Xiao Ping could react, she saw an iron plate behind the painting. When the iron plate was pushed away, there was actually a hidden hole behind the wall. He and Shen Shiyun looked at each other and exchanged a surprised look. The master and servant had been to the main hall for many years, but they did not know that there was such a hidden mechanism in the hall.
Shen Aotian took out a letter and a package from his chest and said solemnly, "Yun 'er, now is not the time to lose. Father cannot tell you the details of the situation. To be honest, Father also does not know the cause and effect. It is just that Shadowless Mountain Villa has provoked a very powerful enemy because of an imaginary thing. The only thing we can do now is to let you leave this place as soon as possible. Take this letter to the Chang 'an Palace and seek refuge with the Manchurian Qing's Regent Dorgon. He can be considered as my old friend, so he should take you in. It is just that the road may be difficult for a girl like you who has never traveled far … But the world is big, so it is much better than staying in this place where you will certainly die! This package of money is for your expenses on the road. You can ask around along the way, so you don't have to worry that no one will be tempted by money. I will take you to the secret stronghold that the Manchurians opened in the Central Plains. In fact, it is not considered a secret anymore! Ay, Father always did not consider you before, always thought … Who would have thought … If this time I can escape from this disaster, I will definitely compensate you well! "These few sentences were no doubt the final farewell.
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