incomprehensible

Several people discussed in the outside room for a long time, but the boy inside actually heard more than half of it, thanks to Bai Houhou's loud voice.

He followed him all the way from the southwest to the northwest, and both Chu Changyue and Bai Wanwan treated him kindly, even speaking softly, for fear of irritating him.

He is a fledgling of Yubu. Although he has not started to transform his body or formally train, he has already learned a lot of skills of observing people's words and emotions, and trying to figure out people's hearts. It can be seen that behind the kindness of these people, there is actually sympathy and pity that cannot be concealed. There was even a hint of fear and awe.

He didn't quite understand that he worked so hard to survive. He didn't die of exhaustion and illness because of lack of food, and he didn't collapse and go crazy because of being trapped and desperate; he was tougher and tenacious than everyone in the remote hospital. The strongest person selected by the law, he should be proud of himself.

However, no one recognized and praised him, and he himself never felt the ease and joy of the rest of his life.

This is completely contrary to the ideas he has been instilled all along, but obviously no one is willing to answer his questions, and even try their best to avoid talking about any topics within the skylark.

He really doesn't have much memory of what happened before joining Skylark, even though there are some sporadic memory fragments, he can no longer remember the appearance of his biological parents.Over the past few days, I have heard some comments, saying that his biological mother died, his father was reunited, and he has a background in the enemy camp, and his family does not want to recognize him, but he doesn't seem to care.Parents are a very vague concept to him. They have never appeared since he can remember, and he still lives to this day.

He knew that those who saved him were all nobles, conquerors and rulers at the peak, and the food, clothing, housing and transportation along the way were luxurious and exquisite that he had never experienced before; Asking about his health, trying to make him forget all the unpleasantness in the past.

He is grateful and willing to accept these kindnesses; but he still has doubts in his heart, and he hasn't figured out what his experience in Skylark really means, so he doesn't want to abandon his past in such a vague way.

Until the man with sharp phoenix eyes stood in front of him.

"Little brat." Ye Xuehuan asked him, "Do you know who I am?"

He already knew the destination on the way, and slowly replied: "You are Prince Rong of Zhongyang."

The boy's voice is still very immature, but it reveals a calmness and calmness that is completely inconsistent with his age; this is somewhat similar to Lan Qi, but it is also a necessary condition for surviving from the skylark.

Ye Xuehuan asked again: "Then do you know what the words 'Prince Rong' mean?"

The boy shook his head honestly.

Ye Xuehuan said proudly: "Below one person, above ten thousand people."

Only then did Xiaoyu raise his head, and met those same light-colored phoenix eyes, but he didn't see any sympathy or disgust, let alone any fear; because it was too powerful, it was strong enough to tolerate everything.

He felt that his doubts for many days might be answered by this person.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Ye Xuehuan raised his brows, seeming to find it interesting, nodded and said, "Say it."

Xiaoyu thought for a while, then slowly said: "I killed many people, but I survived. Did I do something wrong?"

Chu Changyue and Bai Houhou, who were listening outside, couldn't help but hold their breaths. They dared to think that all the careful explanations for so many days were useless. The child was silent all the way, and they were all thinking about this matter.

Ye Xuehuan calmly replied: "You want to live, so it's not wrong."

"Then did I do the right thing?" Xiaoyu asked again, "But I didn't feel very happy either."

Ye Xuehuan replied: "It depends on what kind of life you will live in the future."

Xiaoyu was puzzled and looked at him with wide eyes.

"How many people did you kill? I can't even count the people I killed." Ye Xuehuan chuckled, "Not to mention the enemy, even my own soldiers, I don't know how many of them were due to my decision-making. But I think I am worthy of their sacrifices, and I can live with their lives on my shoulders, so no one is qualified to discuss whether I am right or wrong."

"It's the same for you. You are the only one among so many people, which means that you are the strongest among them, so you have to live a good life, and don't let the life in your hands die so lightly."

Bai Wanwan almost fainted when she heard this, she might feel very deeply and moved by telling her this truth, but whose parent would tell such a young child these principles of life and death?

However, she couldn't understand, but Chu Changyue had a complicated expression, and Lan Qi just watched from afar.They are all familiar with this kind of education method, although Ye Xuehuan always keeps saying that she is wrong, but she still imitates her way of doing things a lot.When the child has doubts, he will answer them truthfully; the answer itself is not the most important thing, the key is that he gives a respectful and rigorous attitude, and he will not just perfunctory just because the child is too young to understand, nor will he deceive and hide because the reality is cruel.

Whether he admits it or not, Empress Chu's subtle influence on him is so deep that he unconsciously uses the way she cultivated himself to cultivate the next generation.

Xiaoyu seemed to understand, but finally someone was willing to answer his question directly, and a strange look finally appeared in those cold and empty eyes like the cold moon.He jumped off the bed, stood in front of Ye Xuehuan, looked up at this man who could even be said to be a stalwart, his breathing was a little short, he hesitated, and asked: "Then killing... Is it right or wrong?"

"Killing is not right or wrong, but it depends on why you kill." Ye Xuehuan looked down at him, and said in a neutral tone, "You said you killed a lot of people, so tell me, why did you kill them? "

Xiao Yu bit her chapped lips, "If you don't kill me, I will be the one to die."

The smile on Ye Xuehuan's face deepened: "Are you afraid when you kill someone?"

"...Scared." Xiaoyu seemed to remember the situation at that time, his small body trembled slightly, "but I don't want to die."

He spoke slowly, but articulated words clearly, and his eyes became firmer, saying word by word: "When I was locked up in the side courtyard, I was very tired, hurt, and scared, but I was even more afraid of death."

"I don't know what's so good about being alive, but if I die, I'll be like them, unable to see or move, and I don't even have a good chance to know what's good about being alive."

"It's hard for me too...but I still want to live."

Chu Changyue and Bai Wanwan looked at each other, feeling shocked, but also a little ashamed.The child has been running around with them for nearly a month, and the sum of the things he said probably didn't come as much as this time and a half.They have been avoiding the topic in the backyard at that time, afraid of causing him secondary harm; but in fact, what he needs is to talk and resolve, but they are adults who are afraid to touch those things that are too heavy and painful. part.

Probably only someone like Ye Xuehuan could bear that kind of weight.

"Good boy." Ye Xuehuan bent down, gently patted Xiaoyu's head, and said very gently, "You did a good job."

A child of this age, in the closed environment of Skylark, lacks understanding of humanity and etiquette. To him, killing people is just a means rather than an end, so he should not be blamed; he can crawl out of hell by himself. Come out, it is more worthy of being praised as "well done".

He should have started to remember things at that time, but he didn't know how he got into the skylark, which was very strange; Ye Xuehuan and Lan Qi didn't really believe that the young master of this family would be in the skylark, because the general The wealthy gentry of the country have lost their young masters, and they have the ability to search for them in a large area. Even if they can't find them in the end, they can cause a wave of waves. It is very dangerous for human traffickers, so they will definitely not take the initiative to attack such rich young masters—— Unless he didn't look like a young master at all when he got lost, or he was sent away on his own initiative.Just now when Bai Yuhou said that his biological father helped his concubine and gave birth to another son, Ye Xuehuan had a guess in his heart, and he was afraid that this would be another bloody and boring dispute between the concubine and concubine.

What Bai Houhou said is indeed true, a small family, not on the stage, for a little bit of poor family property, even a half-grown child will be calculated.His biological father refused to recognize him, maybe it was for his own good.

Ye Xuehuan didn't have any thoughts about the heir, but he also admired the child's tenacity.It was a kind of survival instinct that was almost like a beast, and he would never give up in adversity. This is something that no number of adults can do, but he did it.

It's not terrible to have blood on your hands, what's terrible is that you don't have the consciousness to bear these lives; and after the child was forced to kill, even though he was afraid, he didn't run away.He may be just young and ignorant, and he doesn't know the weight of the word "life and death", but at least he has the courage to face and bear it.

In this child, Ye Xuehuan seemed to see himself who was besieged by the border barbarians in a desperate situation and refused to admit defeat, and also seemed to see Lan Qi who was once alone in the skylark holding on to his heart.

——Ye Xueyuan is right, it is indeed a predestined relationship.

He wanted to cherish his talents, not to mention that he heard clearly just now, Lan Qi said that he was letting him make decisions, but in fact there was still a hurdle in his heart, thinking that he would not be able to continue his offspring, so he worked hard, even for such a little I don't want to leave any insignificant words to others.

It doesn't matter if it's not his own child, the child he and Lan Qi taught will definitely make all the children of the aristocratic family far behind.

"I... did well?"

Xiaoyu was a little unbelievable, until this time he finally showed the expression a child should have. He was overwhelmed and uneasy because of a rare compliment, but he couldn't hide his excitement, and even a little smile appeared on his sunken cheeks. Flushed, the whole person suddenly became alive.

"Of course you are a good boy." Ye Xuehuan stretched out his hand in front of him, "It doesn't matter if your father from a small family in the country doesn't recognize you, he is not worthy of being your father. If you want, just call me father." Wang, I will show you all over the world and let you know what is good about being alive."

Xiao Yu's breathing was obviously a little short, but he only hesitated for a few breaths, and then put the cold and slightly trembling little hand in his palm.

"...Father."

The voice was soft, with a bit of timidity and unfamiliarity, but there was also a trace of unconscious trust and admiration.

"Good boy." Ye Xuehuan shook his little hand in satisfaction, "Of course, if you want, I can even teach you how to kill."

Chu Changyue: "..."

Bai Wanwan: "..."

The little boy who had been silent and numb for a long time finally opened his heart. It should have been such a beautiful and touching picture, but he insisted on adding such a sentence; but Xiao Yu took it seriously and asked in surprise, "Is this also okay?"

"Third Brother!" Bai Wanwan stared, "Don't teach me anything!"

Ye Xuehuan pretended not to hear, led Xiaoyu to Lan Qi, and said with a smile, "Let your little daddy give you a name."

"...Little Daddy?"

"Yeah." Ye Xuehuan blinked at Lan Qi intentionally, "If you want to call me mother, that's fine too."

Lan Qi didn't bother to talk to him, so he said softly to Xiao Yu, "Would you like me to name you?"

Looking at his dark almond eyes, Xiaoyu felt kindness for no reason, and nodded in a daze - that's the resonance that only those who have also struggled in the dark can have.

Lan Qi asked someone to fetch a pen and paper, thought for a while, and wrote a correct word "Su".

——Those who go back, go upstream.

The carp goes against the current, goes up the waterfall, and leaps over the gate to transform into a dragon.

Ye Xuehuan smiled knowingly, "Very good. What about substituting characters?"

Lan Qi tilted his head and thought for a while, then picked up a pen and wrote the word "Jinlin".

The last stroke is elegant and agile, and the rich black color seems to outline a small fish leaping out of a waterfall, the brightly colored scales flashing, the tail fin divides the water, and the dragon takes off.

Bai Wanwan took the paper and glanced at it, then said with a smile, "This name sounds really nice. I'll call you Xiao Jinlin from now on."

Xiaoyu still couldn't recognize so many characters, so Bai Houhou read them to him one by one, explained the meaning, and then told him the difference between the name and the alternate character.He silently recited the three words symbolizing new life several times, and repeated the strokes in his heart until he memorized them firmly, then raised his head and said to Lan Qi, "Thank you... little daddy."

Lan Qi was speechless, but looking at his bright eyes, he didn't care about the title for a moment.Ye Xuehuan smiled and said, "Little brat, you remember. It is just a legend that a fish leaps over a dragon's gate. If there is a fish that can transform into a dragon, it is not because it is reborn, but because it was originally a dragon."

These words are a little hard to understand, let alone Xiao Jinlin who has just accepted a new identity, even Bai Wanwan didn't react.

Ye Xuehuan continued: "You didn't rise to the top because you became my son, but because you have this qualification, I will accept you for naturalization. From now on, you will be the upright son of Prince Rong, who dares to laugh If your pedigree is not correct, you will beat him in the face until his own mother can't even recognize him."

Bai Houhou burst out laughing.

Jin Lin looked around at the faces of several people, thought about it seriously, and asked uncertainly: "Then what if... I can't beat them?"

Lan Qi said: "Then come back and tell your father, let him fight for you."

"..."

Chu Chang felt more angina, as if he had seen the rise of another little devil king.

…………

According to the custom in Northwest China, dumplings are eaten on the morning of the first day of the new year.Ye Xuehuan and Lan Qi lay on the bed all morning, while Chu Changyue and Bai Wanhou were in a hurry to go on their way again, they didn't pay too much attention, so the dumpling meal was left at noon.

Ye Xuehuan specially asked the kitchen to make chicken stuffing with wild mushrooms according to Bai Houhou's taste, and then served it with slow-cooked chicken soup. The four of them and one child ate steaming hot in the warm pavilion.

There was an extra son caught off guard in the palace, so many things had to be taken care of.During lunch, Ye Xuehuan and Lan Qi had been discussing how to hire a few nuns to take care of him in daily life, choose a few stable bodyguards to protect him, ask the husband to teach him to read and write, and then go to the army to find two instructors to teach him. He rides a gun and sword.

These can still be arranged later in the year, but after the fourth day of the lunar new year, many people will come to pay their respects to the palace. In these two days, a tailor must be hired to make new clothes, so that the prince must not look too shabby.

Although Jinlin is young, his demeanor and behavior have been trained to a certain shape, sitting, standing, and walking are graceful, and even the way he eats is dignified and elegant.Lan Qi knew at a glance that he was from Yube, and he was probably a key training object. These basic etiquette norms have been instilled very well, and many things don't need to be taught from scratch, so he asked: "Habe You have always learned a lot, and you should have dabbled in all six arts, how much have you learned?"

Although Jinlin wondered why he knew so much about the skylark, he tactfully didn't ask any further questions, and replied in a low voice: "I have learned some of the imperial archery books, but I don't understand it very well... I even learned Xiao."

Ye Xuehuan heard him emphasize Xiao alone, raised his eyebrows and said, "It's quite elegant. Do you like it?"

Jinlin hesitated for a moment, but nodded honestly.

Ye Xuehuan knew that the brat was secretly speculating about his preferences, but in the end he told the truth, and was quite satisfied with him in his heart, and said with a smile: "Since I like it, I just keep learning. It's just that your father and I don't understand music theory. , I can only invite a musician. The jade produced in Cangzhu County, and I will send someone to find a better white jade flute later, it will be considered as a gift for the meeting."

"...Thank you, Father."

After a lot of negotiation, Ye Xuehuan finally removed the word "little" and asked Jinlin to call Lan Qi's father.This configuration of having no mother but two fathers is quite strange, but anyway, Jinlin has been in the skylark since she was a child, and she doesn't know what ordinary people are like. Although she is not used to it yet, she gradually got used to it.

Although he is precocious and persevering, he is still a child after all. After being alone and helpless for a long time, he is suddenly surrounded by such a relaxed and happy family atmosphere, but he is a little cautious; Dare to relax so quickly, but involuntarily yearn for more warmth.Seeing Ye Xuehuan being so tolerant to him, his eyes turned sore, he sniffed, and buried himself in eating the dumplings in the bowl.

However, he didn't take two bites, and suddenly his face froze, as if his teeth had been broken, he covered his mouth and muttered a few times, and finally spit out a small golden bean.

Bai Houhou had been secretly observing his reaction before, and seeing that he finally ate the golden bean, she immediately clapped her hands and smiled: "Little Jinlin is so lucky, this golden bean among so many dumplings, let you eat it." Eat it out."

Jinlin stared blankly at the golden bean in his hand, before he could understand for a moment, Ye Xuehuan sneered and said, "Dignified Princess, it's just a matter of wrapping a big red envelope in the New Year, and I went to the back kitchen to do it. This kind of trick to deceive children. Why, a golden bean wants to fool this king's heir?"

Bai Houhou was at a loss for words for a moment, and then became angry from embarrassment: "Just because it's the New Year, I want to make a good fortune, how can I lie to a child!"

At this moment, Jinlin also guessed that it was Bai Houhou who specially ordered the chef to put the dumpling filled with golden beans in his bowl, and he felt warm in his heart, but the parents didn't nod, and he didn't dare to accept it. Put the little golden bean in front of Baihouhou.

Ye Xuehuan forcibly misinterpreted: "Look, Jinlin even thinks you don't pay enough."

Bai Wanwan said angrily, "I didn't bring that much money with me! When you bring Jinlin to Hubao City in the future, I'll definitely wrap him a big one."

Ye Xuehuan finally let her go, turned to Jin Lin and said, "Son, remember, you..."

He suddenly pondered, as if he was seriously considering the title, and looked at Chu Changyue with a half-smile, "Changyue, should Liu Yuan be Jinlin's aunt or his aunt?"

Chu Changyue took a mouthful of soup and almost spit it out of his nose.

Ye Xuehuan always disliked his guilty appearance, put down the bowl and chopsticks, and asked slowly: "Now can I tell you what's going on with you two?"

"That's what happened."

Chu Changyue blushed just as he was about to explain, but Bai Houhou had already cut off the conversation, holding his face in both hands, pretending to be shy, "After capturing the capital of Yi Kingdom, we all drank too much at the celebration banquet at night..."

Both Ye Xuehuan and Lan Qi are too familiar with this kind of plot, and they quickly completed what she hadn't finished saying in their minds, and looked at Chu Changyue with four eyes, eyes full of contempt .

"Chu Changyue, Chu Changyue." Ye Xuehuan clicked his tongue, "I didn't expect... so you are this kind of person."

"What qualifications do you have to say about me, you are not..." Chu Changyue retorted without thinking, and felt something was wrong as soon as he said it, and quickly changed his words, "No, it's not what you think!"

However, no one was willing to listen to his explanation. Lan Qi even taught Jinlin seriously: "Eat well, don't listen to the rest, so as not to learn badly."

Jin Lin looked suspiciously among the few people, then buried his face in the bowl, pretending that he was temporarily deaf.

Ye Xuehuan naturally has no right to criticize Chu Changyue, but after all, Lan Qi nodded and said he was willing when he was sober; what's more, he was a man, and he was a male favorite at the time. It's not even a talking point.After all, Bai Houhou is a young girl who has not left the court, and she is also the majestic princess of Dingnan Prince's Mansion, which is completely different from their original situation.

Of course, he didn't think that Chu Changyue had really done anything to offend the heavens and the earth, but it was surprising that these two people would get together, but after thinking about it, it seemed so inevitable——Chu Changyue had a serious temper Pretentious, with a gentle temper, just like Tong Xuan, especially able to arouse people's desire to flirt.With Bai Houhou's temperament, it is difficult not to tease him, even now he is still sparing no effort to describe the facts; it's a pity that when he went to Yunshui Pass, Chu Changyue had already escorted Zhao Ying back to Dan Lu, otherwise these two people might be able to meet eyes at that time.

Thinking of this, Lan Qi suppressed the upturned corners of his mouth, and snorted coldly, "Beast."

Chu Changyue was almost suffocated.

Only then did Bai Wanwan finish her breath: "...then I kissed him."

Chu Changyue's face was blushing almost to the point of bleeding, and he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself on the spot.

Ye Xuehuan felt that the key part was coming, and asked with interest: "That's it? Is there any more?"

Bai Wanwan glanced at Chu Changyue with a smile, and deliberately said very ambiguously: "And then I fell asleep, I don't remember."

It's just getting darker and darker.

Chu Changyue hurriedly swore pointingly: "I didn't do anything, I just helped her back to the room to rest."

Ye Xuehuan raised her eyebrows and asked, "Did you really do nothing?"

Chu Changyue squeezed out two words between his teeth: "Really."

Ye Xuehuan was heartbroken and shook his head in disappointment: "It's not as good as a beast."

——Drinking out of control, dry sticks and burning fire, not being able to control it is a beast, it is better to control the beast, dare to say that from the moment he was kissed by Bai Houhou, he was no longer a human being anyway.

Chu Changyue felt that what Lu Yao said was very correct. This is indeed a pair of heinous dogs and men. He clearly believed that he would not be able to do it from the beginning, but they acted more like each other.

"I hope he will do something." Bai Houhou sighed regretfully, "He is so shy, how can there be a man like him? He has kissed him before, and he is only willing to shake hands with him." , I have to say that we have to become relatives to be intimate..."

Chu Changyue couldn't stand listening anymore, he grabbed her arm and begged for mercy in a low voice: "In front of the child, please restrain yourself..."

Jin Lin immediately said sincerely: "I don't understand, I really don't understand."

Chu Changyue: "..."

If it wasn't because he was too young to know that he really didn't understand, Chu Changyue would have wanted to slap this little brat on the face.

Ye Xuehuan suppressed a smile and said to Bai Houhou: "He also likes you, so he has to take your reputation into consideration, so he can't mess around."

Chu Changyue heard that he finally said something human, and before he had time to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard Bai Yuwan pretending to say: "I don't care. Third brother, you promised to be a matchmaker for me. If the other party disagrees, you will grab it. Now It's time for you to keep your promise."

Chu Changyue almost didn't mention it in one breath, when did these two people have such a ridiculous agreement, it's nothing more than Bai Wanwan, and Ye Xuehuan also accompanied her to mess around.

However, Ye Xuehuan was not as decisive and forthright as he had promised at the beginning, and asked noncommittally: "You guys went out with the big emperor brother. It is said that you have meritorious service this time. If you really want to be happy with each other, let him give you a marriage. Wouldn't it be faster and more useful than me as a matchmaker?"

Bai Houhou was stabbed in the vital point, her aura suddenly weakened, and she faltered and said: "I... I am not familiar with Your Majesty."

How could Ye Xuehuan fail to figure out the key points, and he really hoped that these two people could achieve a positive result, but at present, it is indeed difficult.

The current situation where powerful ministers are in power can only be said to be temporarily disintegrated. The Chu family and Nangong family only retreated temporarily, and did not completely resolve it like the Liu family.Regardless of the Nangong family, Ye Xuehuan's way of dealing with the Chu family was to force Chu Yuezhi to retreat, let Chu Changyue control the military power of the Chu family, and then separate him from the Chu family and become the mainstay of the royal family. War is the best opportunity.

Chu Changyue's current position is quite awkward. Everyone knows that he is actually Ye Xuehuan's confidant and has become a royalist, but he is still inseparable from the Chu family for a while; , and must not become the county horse of Nanfu at this time, otherwise all previous efforts will be in vain. Chu Yuezhi may use the banner of Nanfu to turn against the water and involve Nanfu in the power struggle with the Chu family.King Dingnan would not be willing to let the son of a powerful minister be his son-in-law, and drag Nanfu into trouble for nothing.

Maybe Bai Wanwan doesn't need to understand these complicated causes and effects, but Chu Changyue must understand, and Ye Xueyuan must also understand.Before the Chu family completely lost the threat, Chu Changyue didn't dare to test the emperor's attitude; it doesn't matter if the emperor doesn't grant a marriage, but if he expressly vetoes it, it will be regarded as a one-shot death, and there is no hope.

Self-establishment is by no means a matter of one day. Although Chu Changyue has military exploits, his foundation is not stable. There will be many uncontrollable factors in various utilization and destruction, and the future is really uncertain.

Bai Houhou said it unreasonably, asking Ye Xuehuan to marry her as a matchmaker, but actually came to him secretly to discuss countermeasures.This is not like her temperament, it was probably persuaded by Chu Changyue.

Ye Xuehuan gave her a meaningful look, then smiled lightly and said, "What are you two planning now, let's talk about it first."