Duke Jing's younger sister

After sending her back to the tent, Shen Beiqi went to do his work. He was busy until it was completely dark, and she didn't see him.

She was bored and looked around in the curtains.

Although the tent she lived in was not too big, it had everything she needed, including a desk and incense table. The floor was covered with fluffy carpet, which felt soft to the feet.

Liang Bo was standing outside the tent. When he saw her coming out, he smiled and showed his big white teeth. "Third Miss, are you hungry? The Duke brought you some cakes. They are in the food box on the table."

"Brother Liang, I'm not hungry yet. Do you know when my brother will be back?"

"I'm busy tonight," Liang Bo continued in a low voice, "The Emperor and Empress will be here in person tomorrow. To prevent any thieves from having bad intentions, we can't be careless about security at all!"

Shen Li nodded.

A brazier was lit on the wooden frame. The orange-red flames jumped and whistled in the wind, splashing out star-like sparks that were swept up into the air by the hot air.

Shen Li raised his head and looked at the vast and boundless night sky.

The moon is bright in the sky, and the stars are lonely.

The sound of insects chirping in the grass was endless, and the night breeze blew across the lawn, feeling slightly cool when it blew on my cheeks.

It's very strange. Although we are looking at the same sky, being in the wide land and in the square courtyard, we have two completely different states of mind.

The former felt light-hearted, like a bird that had been imprisoned for so long, finally returning to the arms of freedom and ready to spread its wings and fly.

The latter was unremarkable, like a commonplace sunrise and sunset, without a trace of surprise, and the mood was as calm as a stagnant pool of water.

When Liang Bo brought the food over, Zi Yuan came with Yue Yang.

She also had a bundle in her arms, saying that the Duke had asked her to bring a set of riding clothes and two sets of clothes for her.

Perhaps it was the smell of soil mixed with grass that was particularly soothing. After dinner, Shen Li fell asleep on the soft couch.

The next morning, just before dawn, she was awakened by a deafening burst of shouting.

The shouts of countless soldiers merged into thunderous roars, as if they were about to break through the clouds and shake the heaven and earth.

Amidst this astonishing shouting, there was also the sound of war drums, like galloping horses and rushing rivers.

The drum beats are rapid, the sound is like thunder, the momentum is majestic, and it makes people's blood boil.

Ziyuan was also awakened by the sound. She helped the girl put on her clothes and followed her out of the tent.

The morning wind in the mountains was a little damp and cold, and crystal dewdrops hung on the green grass leaves.

Shen Li pinched the hem of her skirt, stepped on the wet grass, walked around the tent, and looked far away in the direction of the altar.

The sky was tinged with a dark blood-red. Countless soldiers in silver armor stood upright under the platform in neat rows. A large black mass passed by like a dark cloud.

They looked up at the high platform with burning eyes and shouted in unison, "Long live Emperor Hongyang, the ruler of Southern Wu."

Shen Li stopped and immediately saw the tall dark blue figure standing on the altar several meters high.

Emperor Hongyang and the Empress held incense sticks in their hands and worshipped God with sincerity, praying for good weather, peace and prosperity for the country and the people.

He stood together with the other princes and ministers, and bowed slightly following the emperor and empress's movements of burning incense.

She squinted her eyes, but still couldn't see his expression clearly. She could only see the corners of his dark blue robe being blown up by the wind. Even though it was just his back, he stood out among the crowd.

He stood at such a high place where everyone was paying attention, as bright as a star, shining brilliantly.

At such a young age, he can stand on the high platform with the emperor, empress and princes. How glorious he must be in the eyes of others.

But Shen Li felt that his back was extremely lonely, like a beautiful solitary peak, helpless, standing alone between the vast heaven and earth.

He once said that he was her support and her reliance.

He is not only her backer, but everyone in the two branches of the Shen family regards him as a backer.

So, who is his backer?

Who can he rely on?

She recalled her childhood when she loved to cling to him and often pulled at the corner of his robe and refused to let go when he was about to go out.

Whenever she got him into trouble, he would squat down and glare at her, pretending to be angry, but his sparkling peach eyes were full of warm smiles.

"Little Ari, if you continue like this, your brother will be angry?"

She let go of him, sniffed deliberately, and squeezed out two tears. Every time she cried, he raised his hands in surrender, and it always worked.

"Crying again?" Shen Beiqi raised his hand to support his forehead, feeling a little headache, and said, "Brother will buy you some candied haws when he comes back, okay?"

"do not want!"

"Then... Master Liu's sugar figurine?"

She pouted, looking unwilling.

"Then our little A-li will tell brother what you want. Brother will buy it all for you, okay?"

"I don't want anything, I just want my brother not to go out!"

The handsome young man in front of him instantly fell in expression, and he held up two fingers pitifully, "Just two hours, come back immediately after two hours, okay, my little Ahri?"

She has always been well-behaved in the Shen family.

Only when she was in front of him, she showed her temper, acted in all kinds of ways, and became arrogant because of his favor.

Only when she was in front of him would she have the illusion that she was still the same Jiang Li, the youngest daughter of the Jiang family, who was pampered by her father and brother.

And the bright and beautiful young man back then was a treasure held in the hands of the old duke.

He had no idea of ​​the feeling of sorrow all day long. He drank wine, rode a horse, and dressed gracefully in white. He was as free and happy as a wild cloud or a wild crane.

However, there are unexpected changes in the weather, and people are subject to misfortunes and blessings at any time.

The boy's father was ambushed by the enemy while fighting in the north. He was pierced by thousands of arrows and his body was torn into pieces.

White banners fluttered above the mourning hall.

The young man knelt in front of the coffin, dressed in plain clothes, and kept vigil for seven days without shedding a single tear.

When people came to pay their respects, he bowed in return, being so polite that it was impossible to associate him with the once unruly Shen Beiqi.

Later, he took off his white clothes and his youthful arrogance, and learned to be an adult like his father, carrying the entire Shen family on his shoulders.

Shen Li didn't remember too many details of that time. He only remembered that from then on, he went to the battlefield and spent less and less time at home.

It was also from that time that his beautiful peach blossom eyes would no longer show the rippling beauty of spring water.

Instead, there is a cold and solemn atmosphere that makes people feel intimidated and keep their distance.

She could no longer cling to him, act like a spoiled child and refuse to let him leave the house or go to the battlefield as she did before.

The flowers fade and bloom again, the grass withers and grows again.

The distance between her and him was eventually widened silently, and they could never go back to the way they were before.

……

After the ceremony, Emperor Hongyang drew the silver bow and shot the first arrow towards the dense forest in the distance, and the hunting competition began.

The winner of the first prize will personally receive a jar of Luozhu wine that has been treasured for many years.

Luozhu was a small vassal state surrounding Southern Wu. It was best at making wine and poison. Most of the various fine wines in Jiangdu City came from Luozhu.

If it was a reward of gold or silver, these young masters of noble families might not look upon it with much regard. But if it was the finest wine presented by Luo Zhu, then everyone would be eager to try.

Shen Li had no interest in hunting and didn't want to ride a horse.

She took Ziyuan around the polo field for a while. Many noble ladies gathered there, some of whom looked familiar.

One of them was named... Xue Ling. She seemed to have some impression that she was close friends with Shen Zhijuan, the eldest daughter of the second branch of the Shen family.

Xue Ling was of average appearance, but she had a pair of particularly beautiful eyes, round almond-shaped eyes, which were perfectly suited to her innocent and lovely personality.

Seeing Shen Li alone, Xue Ling came forward to greet her, "Sister Shen, why are you here alone? Isn't Sister Zhiyan here?"

Shen Li smiled and said, "Zhi Yan felt a little unwell, so she stayed in the mansion and did not come out."

"Oh, then wouldn't Sister Shen be very bored alone?"