Spring Drunk Chang'an

"Miss, do you want the servants to serve you?"

In front of the hot spring, the palace maids held the clothes and asked respectfully.

Liu Changan's face turned pale as she repeatedly declined, "I don't want to trouble you sisters, I can do it alone."

"When you need us, we'll be outside. Just call us." The palace maids did not force you and left in a friendly manner.

Liu Changan sat in the hot spring, the boiling hot water against her skin, soothing her frightened heart. She wanted to soak in it for a while longer, but then she thought that this was the prince's villa and it was not appropriate to indulge herself.

After hurriedly washing up and regretfully changing into new clothes, she was about to go to meet the prince.

My old acquaintance, Aunt Liu, is here.

"Miss, the prince said you were injured and asked me to give you some medicine."

Liu Changan was crawling around, smashing egg baskets and pulling crops, so he inevitably got scratches on his body.

The palms of my hands were bleeding, and now they feel itchy and painful after soaking in hot water.

She sat obediently on the stone bench beside the hot spring, spread out her palms, and let Aunt Liu apply medicine on her. She didn't cry out when she felt pain occasionally, but just frowned delicately.

The voice was soft, "Thank you for the trouble, Madam."

"It's too hard, Ma'am."

The little person's palm was red, swollen and bleeding. When he applied the ointment, it felt like a stinging pain in his heart. However, he did not complain or cry, but was considerate of others.

Aunt Liu felt sorry for her and couldn't help but advise her, "Young lady, don't take advantage of your young age and don't take care of yourself. Your body is your own. If you don't take care of it when you are young, you will suffer when you are old."

"Mammy, I understand." Liu Changan smiled gently.

There was no explanation. She really wanted to take care of herself, but unfortunately, things didn't go as she wished.

Seeing her appearance, Matron Liu sighed deeply. They were all servants, so everyone knew what it meant to be "forced to do things against one's will."

Her hands became lighter and lighter as she gently bandaged Liu Chang'an.

The guards in the front yard came and said, "The prince has summoned you."

Liu Chang'an did not dare to be negligent. He thanked Madam Liu and left with the guards.

The prince did not invite her into the study, but went to the front yard and then to the gate. Xiao Chuo, sitting on a dark horse, looked down at her with a cold and lonely expression, "Can you ride a horse?"

"will not."

Liu Changan shook his head honestly.

With her status, where can she learn to ride a horse?

"Take her with you and walk with me." Xiao Chuo said in a deep voice.

On the side, a heroic female rider dressed in Hu clothing came forward, leading a red horse. "I am with you, young lady, don't be afraid."

After saying that, he jumped onto the horse, sat down, bent down on the horse's back, and gestured to Liu Chang'an with a smile.

Liu Changan looked at the heroic appearance of the guard sister who was half a head taller than her, and stretched out her hand blankly. Then, a gentle power came from her wrist. She felt dizzy and found herself sitting in front of the guard sister.

Xiao Chuo waved the whip, and the horse raised its hooves and galloped forward.

The guard sister kicked her horse and followed silently, slowing down by half a horse's length.

Finally, there were twenty guards providing escort.

Liu Changan had never ridden a horse before. Although he was gently led by the guard sister, he couldn't help feeling dizzy and couldn't tell the way forward until he smelled the rich fragrance of apricot blossoms.

Only then did they suddenly realize that the group had actually arrived at Xinghuapo.

At some point, the guards had fallen far behind.

The ten-mile apricot blossom slope is full of spring.

The spring breeze blew gently, and the apricot blossoms swayed gently, like clouds dancing in the wind. The scattered petals were like light pink smoke, floating lightly and softly in Liu Chang'an's hair.

The sunlight shines through the gaps in the flower shadows, casting mottled light and shadows, like a dream.

Xiao Chuo was dressed in black, riding a dark horse, with wide sleeves swaying slightly, and the soft apricot blossoms combined with his overly cold temperament, making his stern eyebrows and eyes appear somewhat gentle.

Liu Changan was half a horse's length behind him, his red lips slightly pursed into a light arc.

She looked at his back with a smile in her almond eyes.

A breeze blew, and the petals fluttered in the air, like a mysterious rain of flowers.

Xiao Chuo reined in his horse and suddenly looked back.

Liu Changan was slightly surprised, then smiled.

Eyes facing each other.

For a moment, both of them were speechless.

The guard lady who was leading Liu Changan and steering the horse closely behind the Crown Prince and controlling the horse's pace said: ...

dont see.

Do not listen.

He concentrated on his work with his head down and never looked up at others' faces.

moment!

Xiao Chuo withdrew her gaze and reined in her horse.

The horse moved forward slowly.

He said calmly, "I have already checked what you and your aunt reported last time."

Liu Chang'an suddenly came to his senses, concealing his slight panic, and asked urgently, "Is it about Qu Qiutong? What happened? Does Duke Liu have any connection with her family?"

The guard lady flattered silently.

The big chestnut horse caught up with the prince.

She then lowered her head.

Xiao Chuo nodded. "The corruption case was concluded over twenty years ago. One hundred and forty-six male members of the Qu family were exiled to the northwest. I sent people to investigate, but they discovered that twenty people were missing."

"After twenty miles, seventeen people could not bear the hardship of the journey and died of illness on the way. The remaining three were rescued by Duke Liu."

"Is Qu Qiutong one of these three people?" Liu Changan was stunned.

In her previous life, she had always been an ordinary maid with limited vision. It was only when she was a Taoist nun and saw and heard a lot in Qingyun Temple that she gained some knowledge.

But most of them are mundane matters in the market, spread by word of mouth and rumors.

She had never heard of the true secrets of the wealthy families, and she was both concerned and curious.

Xiao Chuo looked at Liu Chang'an leaning forward, his almond-shaped eyes full of smiles. He said, "Qu is a female relative. She was exchanged by Liu Xiu from the teaching office."

"Those who came out of the Road of Exile were three men."

Liu Chang'an listened in a daze, then an idea flashed in his mind, "When the Crown Prince mentioned these three people, did that mean he knew about their situation and where they were?"

Xiao Chuo, "Those three are cousins ​​within the fifth degree of mourning of the Qu family. They were not very noticeable when the Qu family was prosperous. After being rescued by Liu Xiu, they changed their names."

"One went to Duke Cheng'en's mansion and became the Crown Prince's staff member."

"One sold himself to enter the Yongding Marquis's mansion and is now the second in command."

"The last one went to the Southwest General's residence and became a staff officer."

"Duke Cheng'en, Marquis Yongding, General of the Southwest..." Liu Chang'an murmured, fear flashing in his almond-shaped eyes. He said in astonishment, "Then, that's not all of them!"

"The Song family."

Xiao Chuo sneered.

Duke Cheng'en Song Bin started his career as a military general and made great contributions to the Xia Kingdom. He was known as the "Mighty General". He and his wife had one son and three daughters, all of whom were legitimate children.

The eldest son, Song Chengji, is the prince of Cheng'en.

The eldest daughter is the current queen mother, Queen Song.

The second daughter was betrothed to the Marquis of Yongding.

The youngest daughter was Song.

The two men also had a niece who lost her parents at a young age and whom they raised since childhood. The niece married the general of the southwest. Liu Xiu arranged all the rescued members of the Qu family to live with the Song family.

Even married women were not spared.

"Duke Liu, over twenty years ago, had already set his sights on the Song family..." Liu Chang'an muttered. After a moment, he suddenly realized and said in fear, "No, it's not the Song family."

"It's you!"

"It's the East Palace!"