Those years when I climbed the wall

After a few months, it was mid-autumn again.

At night, the golden wind is refreshing and the moon is bright.Aristocratic families decorate terraces and pavilions, folks compete to occupy restaurants, and the city is playing with the moon, and there is a lot of silk and bamboo.

The night is getting darker, and the streets are full of horses and horses. Going out of the inner city gate to the southeast for a few miles, there are several dangerous pavilions such as Danfeng Pavilion, Fengqiao, and Yuegang along the way or open places for moon play. In addition, it is convenient to go west along the river. It was the Nanmen Night Market, so the crowds were bustling all the way out of the city.

"Give way—give way!" At this time, there are still people rushing against the current, at first glance, their expressions are hurried, and they are obviously panicked.

After chasing for two miles in one go, the black shadow seemed to be swallowed by the turbulent crowd in front of him, and there was still no trace.Holding the half of the dog's leash in his hand, Xun Miao sighed resentfully: If I knew this, I shouldn't have brought the dog out!He said it was careless, he thought that Xifu would always be locked up at home with nowhere to go, so he took him out to get some air tonight, but when he arrived at the bustling city, the beast broke free from the rope and ran away—I don’t know whether it was frightened or not. Excessive joy.Quietly thought about it, this place is not far from Nanqiao Night Market, in case it smells like oil... and has no direction at all, just go and have a look.

After making up my mind, I took a shortcut to the night market.Passing through the Landbridge area, although the location is not remote, there are not many people who know it, so it is rare to see peace and meet few tourists.

The sky is bright and the moon is clear, and the wind blowing from the embankment is quite refreshing and refreshing.Xun Miao quickened his pace, walked and looked around, and saw a few lights on the bridge in front of him, they were lanterns held by people traveling at night.When I got closer, I saw a few figures standing at the bridgehead, and they seemed familiar in a trance.

The moonlight is like water, perfectly outlining the figures of the two people leaning on the railing in the bridge and looking far away. They are generally slender and elegant, and they are both wearing light-colored clothes. From a distance, they are as bright as jade trees facing the wind.Looking closer, one knows that they are two young men, one is noble and noble, as bright as the sun and moon in his arms, and the other is gentle and gentle, as light as a orchid emerging from the dust.

What a couple!

Just as he was sighing, he heard a slight humming sound in his ears, followed the sound and saw a familiar black shadow flashing past!Suddenly regaining consciousness, Xun Miao stepped onto the bridge in two or three steps, and saw a black dog coiling around a person's feet, shaking its head and tail, showing a flattering attitude.

"Xifu!" He yelled sharply, angry from his heart: he was worried all the way that this beast would be beaten because of surprise or stealing food, but he didn't think it would be in vain!Now that a dog sees people as tall, they still know how to laugh at noble people to please them!

"Zhiwei?" The voice on the other side was surprised.

Cursing his lips, Xun Miao glanced coldly at the black dog facing him on the ground, feeling a bit tight in his chest, and resentfully said, "It's Brother Guo, what a coincidence."

Seeing the two people leaning on the fence looking back at this moment, Xun Miao was shocked at first, and approached to salute, but he was puzzled: it is a pity that he will not be able to go to the banquet in the palace tonight, but why are these people so uneasy about enjoying the banquet and abandoning it? Playing with the moon on the high platform, come to this secluded place in groups of threes and stand in a daze?At a moment's confusion, he blurted out and asked, "Why is Your Majesty here?"

"Zhen..." Mu Yun Qixian didn't think about what to say, and looked at his side while pondering.

"Today's festive season, the officials wanted all the officials to return home earlier to gather with the family, so they ended the palace banquet early, and brought Xiao Wang and General Guo to visit the city in disguise, to find out the people's feelings." King Jia smiled and replied calmly.

Mu Yunqi nodded.

"Why is Zhiwei here?" Guo Kaiji asked.

"I..." Xun Miao opened her mouth, but saw that King Jia's eyes had turned to where the voice came from, and there was a tacit smile on the corner of his mouth.His mind was slightly confused, and he lowered his eyes and murmured: "Chasing the dog..."

"Look, it's coming!" Fortunately, there was a joyous shout from somewhere under the bridge, which interrupted the person's tasteless words at the right time, and drew everyone's attention to the river.

Looking far away, there is a bright light floating on the water in the east, but when you get closer, you can see that there are nearly a hundred small sheepskin water lamps gathered in one place, floating all over the river, rotten like stars.

A little red under the moon, thousands of lights flow together.

It was originally a folk custom in the south of the Yangtze River to set off river lanterns on Mid-Autumn Night. It was introduced to Beijing in recent years, and it became popular for a while.People in the city are extravagant and like grand scenes, so every mid-autumn, there are always some rich and noble families who buy hundreds of lamps and put them down from the upper reaches of the river at night.

With such a magnificent scene, it is no wonder that the emperor was also yearning for it, so he dismissed the palace banquet early and came here to enjoy the scenery in modest clothes.

"This bridge is located in the east of the city, and the lighting scene cannot be compared with the Jinliang Bridge. In addition, the river lights will be released one after another in the first half of the night, and it will be a grand sight when the 'ten thousand lights cross the border' under the Jinliang Bridge in the middle of the night!" Jia Jia Wang shook his folding fan lightly, talking eloquently.

"But there are too many people?" Looking at the emperor who was looking around eagerly, Guo Kai obviously meant something.

King Jia was stunned, and closed his fan with a smirk: "Naturally! At that time, thousands of people were on the same bridge, vying to see each other, but they couldn't even take a step. Besides, there were crowds of people crowded with each other, and for a long time, it was hard to see clearly, let alone During the period, there were still many people who had disputes due to friction and bumping, but the frequent swearing and constant pushing and shoving were really disappointing."

"It's not as good as that," Guo Kai continued, "watch quietly in a quiet place with few people. I remember that from the Qiuhui Pavilion in the palace, you can see the Zhou River from a distance.

Knowing that if he continued to speak, he would persuade him to return, Mu Yunqi was ambiguous for a moment: "Looking at the lantern, it is better to be near the water." As if afraid of his rebuttal, his gaze wandered, and Xun who fell to one side On Miao's body, he turned the conversation: "Since we met by chance today, has Xun Qing made up his mind about the matter I asked before?"

Xun Miao bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, after weighing the matter, I decided to go to Xingzhou!" As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to feel heat in his ears, and when he looked back, he saw someone beside him staring at him.

After being stunned for a while, he heard the solemn voice of the emperor again: "You can think about it. Xingzhou is located in the border area, where it is bitterly cold and there are frequent military disasters. After you go here, although the official rank is one level higher than that of the foreign Kuizhou, you still have to pay attention to it." Safety and danger are unpredictable. I will consider the time with you, and hope that you will think carefully and act according to your ability."

Xun Miao respectfully: "Your Majesty is sympathetic, and I am very grateful! But the righteousness of a person and minister is that loyalty is the highest, and integrity is the virtuous. I am protected by heaven's grace, and I have been bathing in the Holy Lake for a long time. It is decided to take the post of Xingzhou Tongju, and I hope God will fulfill it!"

"That's it..." Knowing that he was not lying, Mu Yunqi nodded: "Then..." Before he could speak, he was interrupted.

"Think twice, Your Majesty!" It was Guo Kai.

Frowning, Mu Yun begged for displeasure: "Guo Qing has objections to this?"

"Exactly!" The man did not shy away, "I think that Xun Shengcheng is weak and may not be able to withstand the severe cold in the north. He also said that Xingzhou is a border fortress with frequent wars and changing military situations. Xun Shengcheng is still young. The official career is smooth, and I have not experienced any storms, so I am afraid that it will be difficult to take on this important task!"

"You..." Xun Miao anxiously said, "General Guo's words, are you forgetting that when you first entered the battlefield, you were not as old as I am now? Besides, it is said that resumes are not accumulated in thin air, and everyone has their first time. How many people in the world are Born with extraordinary talents? Besides, let’s not mention it far away, let’s just say that Shao Jinglue, who just went to Xingzhou, is also a young man who enrolls in the imperial examination, and then goes to the northwest when there is chaos? If you can do it, why can’t I?”

"At this time, at that time, the situation of the two sides is different, how can we talk about the same thing?" Guo Kai said in a more serious tone: "Your experience is still young, why should you be greedy for merit and rush for promotion? You must know that this is not beneficial to yourself or others. !"

"Okay!" Mu Yunqi finally couldn't bear it anymore, turned around and paced: "I think what Xun Qing said is not unreasonable. Although he is young, his knowledge may not be shallow. Besides, the northwest is generally considered peaceful now, although the Qiang and Hu remnants occasionally Still harassing, but Shao Jingheng has personally gone to sit in the town, and his reputation is far away. Hu Bu learned that he would not dare to act rashly. Even if he came to harass, how could he face the revitalization army dozens of times his size? So Guo Qing just said the truth and exaggerated the truth .”

Brows tightened, Guo Kai finally swallowed the words that came to his lips, lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Xun Miao bowed again: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for fulfilling the task!"

Mu Yunqi turned around: "The matter is settled, I will make an order tomorrow, and you should make preparations, and leave for the north in at least ten days."

"Yes—" Xun Miao hadn't finished speaking, but heard the happy voice of Qiaotou Jiawang——

"Look, the lights are here again!"

All the people gathered together and leaned on the railing to see the grand scene.Only Qiaotou was left alone, staring fixedly at the frail but stubborn back in the crowd, and let out a shallow sigh.

After watching the three rounds of lanterns, Haizheng has passed, Mu Yunqi knew that he would not return, and if others did not speak, Guo Kai would inevitably urge him again, so he simply spoke first: "It's getting late, I will return first." He nodded his chin behind his back "I have so many guards by my side, so it's okay to go. Guo Qing doesn't have to see you off, it's good to accompany King Jia back to the mansion." After saying that, the one who couldn't spare replied, turned around and left, as if he was afraid that things would change if he was too late. .

Seeing the royal driver going away, Xun Miao bowed to King Jia to say goodbye, and then called for joy, but the dog heard the sound, instead of approaching, it even retreated behind Guo Kai, sitting on the ground as firmly as Mount Tai, tilting its head to look at it, its posture It's hard to see whether it's provocation or begging for mercy.

Xun Miao got angry for a while, resorted to coercion, lure, intimidation and cursing, but unfortunately none of them worked, but he was a dignified Confucian official and a well-educated scholar, and it was really disrespectful to make noise with a dog in the street.Calm down, feeling annoyed, knowing that the people on the opposite side are all holding back their laughter, bowing their heads to prevent the blush from bursting out, and cupping their hands to King Jia: "This beast rarely goes out, or because it is frightened, at this moment If you don’t want to move, let him go, Xun will take a step ahead, and bid farewell to the king!” After saying this, he turned around, as if wishing he could grow wings and fly away from this embarrassing place.

After walking for a while, he suddenly heard a dog barking behind him, turned around, and faced a man and a dog who came walking, the anger that had just subsided was about to rekindle, and said coldly: "This beast is close to General Guo, and I think it is fate. Going north, General Guo thought about the friendship in the past and took it in. Otherwise, it would have to live on the streets, and at some point, it would be beaten to death for stealing a bone like those wild dogs without owners!"

Without comment, the visitor squatted down, pulled the end of the rope in his hand, and carefully connected it to the short rope hanging from the dog's neck. After tugging, it looked firm, and then straightened up: "I had the same intention, I'm afraid you don't want to , Then I didn’t say it, but...” drove the dog over, “After all, you still have a few days before leaving, and it’s not that it doesn’t deny the master, it just thought you were joking with it, so it didn’t listen. After you go far, It trotted all the way to chase it, which shows that it is still human, so for these two days, let it accompany you, and when you leave, I will lead it myself."

"It... chased me? Really?" With a flick of the eyes, Xun Miao's tense mouth loosened a little, and the man who saw him nodded, and his face became brighter, as if a ray of light was finally shed in the long-gloomed sky.Pull the dog leash, thank you, and go with one person and one dog. "Oh, I suddenly—" After walking about ten steps, I turned around and saw Guo Kai still standing alone, scratching his head in surprise, a little dazed: the gentle and smiling person in front of me is still the same person who spoke harshly before he became a saint and beat him to death. General Guo who has been demoted to nothing?After pondering for a while, I lowered my gaze: "I just remembered that Mrs. He doesn't like cats and dogs. She likes happiness and bluntly, and she doesn't understand human feelings. When I lived in the expensive house, I was able to watch and not let it go forward, but now..." Play Holding on to the dog leash, he hesitated: "Or...it's fine, I'll entrust it to the second shopkeeper."

"No, I will keep an eye on it!" Although Guo Kai's voice was soft, he was firm, "I will take it to the Yamen during the day, and close the gate at night."

"This... is too disturbing..." The words are like this, but the relief is sincere.

Shaking his head, the man's mouth frivolously showed embarrassment: "I have raised Xifu, so you don't have to worry." It is really dangerous, the situation in Xingzhou is far from what you have seen Antai, so be careful when you go here! Don't try to be brave, if anything goes wrong, immediately go to the hospital and ask for transfer."

When my mood improved, Xun Miao didn't see any displeasure, but showed a sly look: "You know I've always been timid, and I won't provoke right and wrong for no reason. Now that I'm gone, I will be cautious in my words and deeds, and only perform my duties and don't ask questions. For irrelevant things, if you see the enemy, you will hide, and if you are in danger, you will move, and even if he is in a strange situation, it will be difficult to harm me in the slightest."

The worry in the eyes of those who watched him rose and fell several times, and finally turned into a few words of advice: "In short, don't be careless, be careful in everything."

"I know!" Xun Miao nodded, thinking of something again, a trace of melancholy flashed across her brows: "By the way, from now on, it's better not to let Xifu show up in front of King Jia."

"Why?" The listener was surprised.

"Because..." poking his finger, Xun Miao showed embarrassment, "Without him, I just think... a man like King Jia, who is out of the world, naturally doesn't like cats and dogs very much."

His pupils moved slightly, his brows tightened and then relaxed, Guo Kai nodded: "Okay, I'll make a note of it."