you got on my tail

When Xu Gao woke up again, in front of him was no longer the dark and oppressive walls of the prison, but the sharp and sharp wind like a knife in the suburbs.

He stretched out his hand to look around, gradually got up as if he had just learned to walk, and groped in the dark with a limp, his face was hurt by the wind blade, he thought that he was dead, and he could still feel the pain in hell.

"you're awake?"

Suddenly a man's voice sounded like a smile but not a smile, Xu Gao was taken aback, and he stepped back abruptly, slamming into the big tree behind him, and the dead branches and leaves rustled down.

"Master, don't put me in the frying pan, I have never killed anyone, nor rebelled!" Xu Gao knelt down, buried deeply, not daring to raise his head, "My lord, King of Hell, you..."

"King of Hades? You're not dead yet." The man laughed happily, sitting on a boulder with his feet crossed, with a smile in his eyes, he stepped forward and pulled Xu Gao up, "Look at me, am I a man or a ghost?" ?”

Xu Gao swung his arm violently, but he didn't break away from him. He only felt the warmth of the man's palm, so he got up boldly and raised his head. In front of him was a very tall young man, dressed in black, with only a smear of red running along the hem. .

"Thank you, hero, for saving me!" After confirming that he was not dead, Xu Gao let out a sigh of relief, his whole body suddenly slumped like a broken string, and he kept murmuring.

"I rescued you, so naturally I need you to do something." The man smiled and pointed to the cave in front of him, "Come with me."

Xu Gao stood up in a daze, and unconsciously followed the man's footsteps. The cave was pitch black, and he couldn't see his fingers.

"You were imprisoned in the sky prison and almost beheaded." The man spoke slowly, took out a torch from his sleeve to light it up, and a soft light faded in the dark cave, "but your brother stayed in the mansion to hug you." Don't you hate him when a woman sleeps?"

Xu Gao originally had resentment, but he has been in the business world for many years, so he came to his senses in an instant. If he wants to live well, he can't fight against Xu Yan for the time being, so he won't be provoked by one or two words. He restrained his emotions and tried : "Hero, my brother is naturally hateful, but he is a general after all, let's do it, isn't this hitting a stone with a pebble..."

"It's just you, you still want to fight with him?" The man smiled again, and threw the fire into the lamp on the wall. The lamp oil ignited, and the fire gradually spread. The cave was suddenly brightly lit. Xu Gao, who had been in the dark for a long time, was very uncomfortable. He quickly covered his eyes.

The man smiled and said nothing, his eyes were like stars, and there was silence all around.

After a while, Xu Gao put down his palm, only to realize that the cave is not empty, and there are countless iron objects inside.

It's not so much iron, it's better to say it's a weapon.

Xu Gaodeng opened his mouth wide. After a while, he came back to his senses and turned his head to look at the man just now. The extremely terrified face just now had changed into a treacherous knowing smile.

In the middle of the night, Xu Yan didn't fall asleep either. He held Yu Yan in his arms, gently stroking her silky long hair, trying to relax, but still frowning.

He didn't want to send his younger brother to die, but he was helpless in the face of the ruthless Fu Jiying. Although some people persuaded him to start a rebellion and help King Yu take the throne, King Yu was too immature and young, and the Queen Mother was indecisive. The most important thing was the two of them. There is still family affection in his heart, so none of them are Fu Jiying's opponents, so this is still an unwise suggestion.

Fu Jiying specially prepared for her birthday outside the city, which was a sign of intentional assassination, and Wei Lan was actually sent to take care of the guards. Jin Yiwei was the emperor's lackey. Many people thought that the emperor underestimated the enemy, and asked Xu Yan to give it a go. .

But Xu Yan has his own considerations. He has been fighting for many years, so naturally he is not afraid of Jin Yiwei's measurement. What he fears in his heart is Xun Luo who is now silent.

After all, Xun Luo is a general and loyal.

At this moment, Yu Yan turned around and wrapped his arms around his waist, the night breeze was cool, someone knocked on the door outside, and the sound was hurried, Xu Yan tucked the quilt for Yu Yan, and got out of bed impatiently.

"master……"

The servant who was shaking like a sieve hadn't finished reporting, when there was a huge metal impact sound, it turned out to be a silver shoulder knife, Xu Yan frowned, and instantly used his hand as a blade, and grabbed the neck of the person in front of him fiercely.

"Brother, are you going to strangle me?" The man in front of him was wearing a hood, his voice was trembling but disdainful, "There are many such things, I have already told my subordinates, if I don't see me out of the city alive after three hours, The emperor will know immediately how many weapons you have ambushed outside the city."

"Where do I have weapons outside the city?" Xu Yan was anxious, but his hands did not tremble for a long time, and he lowered his head and sighed: "I want to protect the entire Xu family, you must die, let you escape from prison, think about it, it must be arranged by the emperor, you and I We grew up together, and my elder brother will send you off today, and it will save me the pain of being hacked to pieces in the future."

"It doesn't matter if you don't believe me, anyway, there are thousands of weapons in the mountains of Liulin County outside the city." Xu Gao sneered, his voice trembling, "I can assure you that the emperor doesn't know about it, but brother today is not as I wished, the emperor will know about it soon, And let me punish you for the serious crime of treason first! By the way, brother, don’t think about ambush, my Xu Gao’s business names are all over the world, and you know how many people are under him, brother!”

"Okay." Xu Yan calmed down quickly. He felt that Xu Gao made the weapon for sale at the time, and now he just used it to threaten him, so he calmly said, "Let's go now. I will send you out of the city and go to sea in Tianjinwei."

"No." Xu Gao shook his head, his two pairs of very similar eyes looked at each other, and after a while he said: "There are still five days before your birthday, seven of the twelve guards in the capital were once under the command of my Xu family army, Shuozhou Pass, Shanxi , there is also General Sui Jie, who has been greatly favored by us, and it is only two days away from Beijing."

Xu Yan raised his head and frowned deeply, "What do you mean?"

"I'm helping the Xu family." Xu Gao gritted his teeth and smiled viciously, "Tell elder brother not to sit and wait for death, but to strike first."

Brothers, brothers, connected by blood.

If you want to escape, run away together, if you want to die, you also die together.

"And this." Seeing that Xu Yan was still hesitating, Xu Gao raised his hand, took out a bright yellow object from his sleeve, and stuffed it into his hand.

Xu Yan bowed his head, even though he was used to the wind and waves, he couldn't help taking two steps back in surprise. What Xu Gaosai gave him was nothing but the mysterious last emperor's will.

Could it be that his nephew Yu Wang, who has always been a brother and friend, didn't give this thing to the emperor, but left it to him?

At this moment, Xu Yan, who had always been forbearing, lowered his head, clenched his fists, squinted his eyes, and looked forward like a desert falcon.

Now that he was pushed to the end, he didn't want to bear it any longer.

……

Xu Yan's birthday was not far from the New Year's Eve. A few days later, the streets of the capital were decorated with lights and festoons, and it was very lively.

The Mei Garden is already in full bloom. Although it is remote, but after all, the Royal Garden, the surrounding buildings look like they are luxurious and extravagant.

The capital city was also abnormal. Wei Lan brought ten of the twelve guards of the capital to be ready at any time. As long as there was a signal, they would immediately rush into the Meiyuan.

General Xu celebrated his birthday, and it was the place where the emperor personally rewarded him. Naturally, hundreds of officials came to congratulate each other with gifts. Yu Yan had arranged for this event for a long time. At this moment, she was sitting happily in front of the mirror, with her blue-gray hairpin on her temples, which was different from ordinary people. Walking with precious stones, rubies are carved into plum blossoms, and long tassels hang down and fall into the embroidered collar.

She turned her head, put on the coat for Xu Yan who had already woken up, and leaned against his arms.

Xu Yan's body was already wearing soft armor, which was a bit harsh.

Xu Yan pushed her away, turned his head and handed over a piece of paper, "This is my old house outside the city, no one knows, there is food and drink there, you and Ling Xiao go and live there."

"Xianggong, what about you?" Yu Yan raised her head, not understanding.

"I have something to do, wait for me to deal with it." Xu Yan fastened his clothes, "I'll come back and find you."

"You didn't lie to me?" Yu Yan asked with her face raised.

"Absolutely." This time, he answered very decisively.

Yu Yan wanted to say something more, but Xu Yan got up and left. He only cared about putting on the invulnerable soft armor, but didn't care about the middle coat that Yu Yan put on for him.

Yu Yan had been embroidering that middle coat for a long time, it was the best handicraft in her life, and she specially waited to give it to him on this day, it was embroidered with bright gold thread with dragon pattern, the nine-clawed dragon pattern that only the royal family can use.

There was a lot of turmoil outside the capital, and the Queen Mother was seriously ill and stayed in the palace. Only King Yu prepared a heavy gift and went to celebrate.

According to Bai Xuehe's plan, Wei Lan led the troops and pretended to arrest Xu Yan at the banquet. Xu Yan knew the emperor's plan and looked down on Wei Lan. If he didn't want to die, he would use the existing conditions to strike first .

Wei Lan must be defeated, and then pretend that Xu Yan took the lead. At that time, Xun Luo, who was temporarily arranged to go to the school outside the city, will treat him as a traitor, filled with righteous indignation, and lead troops to capture people.

At this moment, a white horse galloped by outside the school grounds. Bai Xuehe was wearing a thick padded coat and stood alone in the middle of the pasture. After a while, he looked up at the dusk sky and waved clumsily.

Snow has fallen in the capital, and the meadow has turned into a complete wasteland. The white horse and the gray and white horizon are far away, as if they are running from the sky.

Xun Luo reined in the white horse and jumped off, holding the sword in his hand, and looked at Bai Xuehe with some embarrassment.

He didn't know that Bai Xuehe was pretending to be drunk before, and he was choked by Cang Hua when he went to Baifu, so he still felt guilty, so he didn't know why Bai Xuehe came, and he was too embarrassed to talk to Bai Xuehe .

"It's cold in the capital, I'm here to deliver some food to General Xun." Bai Xuehe spoke first with a smile, stroking the white horse's mane, and casually looking for topics, "This is really a good horse, is it from outside the Great Wall? I don't know it What is your name."

"It's called Shengxue." Xun Luo looked dull, and answered with some embarrassment, but didn't know what to say after answering.

The other party was silent, Xun Luo raised his head and looked at Bai Xuehe cautiously, only to find that he was looking at him, and couldn't help but blush in embarrassment.

"I didn't come to ask you to ask your teacher to blame me. I was drunk that day, so I forgot everything else." Bai Xuehe explained to him with a smile, reached out to pat the food box, rubbed his hands tremblingly and said, "I'm not courteous for nothing, It’s just that I’ve never seen a school ground before, so I’m curious! This time I brought wine and snacks, if the general doesn’t mind, why don’t you take me away?”

"En." How could Xun Luo say that he disliked it? He nodded and led the white horse forward, and the white snow crane followed behind with his things. At this moment, the sky was suddenly covered with snow. Dumb, seeing his gaze, smiled back, showing neat white teeth.

"You're not in good health, you can't stand the cold, why don't you leave, go back." Xun Luo raised his hand and took off his cloak, stuffed it into Bai Xuehe's arms, and said calmly, "My father said, when you are 25 years old If you don’t exercise in the end, your body will go downhill and you won’t be able to stand the cold at all.”

"Thank you." Bai Xuehe took it, nodded, and smiled, "If the general is free, you can tell me about your father. I'm a little curious about Master Luo Cangxia Luo."

Xun Luo stopped walking, eyes fell on the sword at his waist, and suddenly became silent.

"I'm sorry." Bai Xuehe smiled apologetically, looked down at his toes, "I shouldn't have mentioned this..."

"It's okay." After a long silence, Xun Luo raised his head and looked at the already colorful sky. At this moment, the sun was setting at dusk, and the setting sun pierced through layers of clouds, revealing a faint golden light through the gaps.

very beautiful.

It was not the first time for Xun Luo to come to the school field. When he was very young, Luo Cangxia had brought him here, and led him to ride a terrifying tall horse across the grass field, facing the sunset.

"He's a, very nice guy..."

Xun Luo smiled gently and opened his mouth.

At this moment, there were singing and dancing in Meiyuan, Xu Yan sat in the middle of the hall and concentrated, waiting for the congratulations of all the officials who came to attend.

Not too many officials came to participate in the birthday today. Some people think that Xu Yan's status is not as good as it was back then, and that the emperor's reward is just flattery, but Xu Yan doesn't take it seriously. He raised his head and raised his glass. Officials swig.

All the people who come here are guests, not to mention that this place will soon be in flames, and it is hard to tell whether everyone is alive or dead.

Xu Yan toasted, watching the officials who flattered him pour the wine, feeling extremely sympathetic.

At this moment, the lieutenant general finally came over, with a tense expression on his face, as if he was ready for battle, Xu Yan raised his hand to avoid drinking, and followed him to a clean corner.

"General, General Sui Jie hastened to report that he has led people to sneak into the vicinity of the capital. They are all elite soldiers and dead soldiers!"

"Okay." Xu Yan nodded, and calculated that the twelve guards of the capital who had contacted him should have arrived at the appointed place. He strode to the center of the hall and clapped his hands loudly. There was silence everywhere, and everyone looked up at him.

"Thank you, my lords, for attending this old man's birthday." Xu Yan raised his hand, and four guards appeared, guarding the gates of the mansion. Teachers and friends, later on will be King Yan, no matter whether you are talented, sage or valiant, you will be reduced to prisoners one by one!"

Everyone obviously didn't expect him to say this, everyone was silent, fake smiles were piled on their faces, and the hands that had just folded their hands to celebrate the birthday stopped in the air, and the atmosphere was weird and awkward.

"As a general, I, Xu Yan, have guarded Mobei for many years. The barbarians and Turks dare not take a step forward! But I have to be framed by villains and suffer for no reason. I just watched my brother go to prison!" Xu Yan's voice almost roared, and he raised his wine glass , threw it on the ground and threw it into pieces, "Today, I will have a will to help Chaogang. If you want to follow, I will be overjoyed. If there is any objection, it will be a traitor who resists the order and disrespects." !"

As the last word burst out, there was a loud bang in the sky, and the golden fireworks pierced straight into the night sky, turning into countless shooting stars in an instant.

"Uncle, you!" To Xu Yan's surprise, all the officials were silent, but King Yu was the first to step forward. He was not afraid, and he stood in front of Xu Yan with righteous words, "Aren't you a blatant conspiracy—— "

Xu Yan cut King Yu unconscious with a knife in his hand, and threw it to the lieutenant.

"Why did this happen?" Beads of sweat gushed out from the deputy general's forehead, "Obviously it was King Yu who gave us the will, could it be... fraudulent?"

"What are you afraid of? It's too late to be deceitful." Xu Yan smiled arrogantly, raised his saber to cut through the air,

"kill--"

Soon, there was a commotion outside the city. Although preparations had already been made for some of the twelve guards of the capital to rebel, Wei Lan was still defeated by Xu Yan. Reinforcements arrive.

Xun Luo's eyes were half drunk with the extremely strong aroma of burning knives in the big tent of the school grounds. Bai Xuehe neither persuaded him to drink nor stopped him, just sat quietly opposite him and smiled, listening to his recollection of the past.

"...It was also when I met the emperor that I realized that he also has the same swordsmanship as mine." Xun Luo Chunche raised his glass mockingly with bloodshot eyes, "I know that the emperor is cruel and pushes out loyal ministers." , but he is my father's benefactor, I have to repay..."

"General Xu rebelled!"

Before Xun Luo could finish speaking, a soldier from outside the door broke in and knelt down, and said in a trembling voice, "General, Xu Yan has plotted a rebellion!"

Another person broke in, "Xu Yan brought the dead men to instigate rebellion against the twelve guards of the capital, and is about to enter the imperial city! Lord Wei can't resist it!"

"Your Majesty Bai can stay here, it's safer." Xun Luo gritted his teeth and got up, and then unsheathed the Jimu sword, dangling a little drunk, and ordered: "I will order troops with you, and you can't let him enter the capital."

"Wait." But Bai Xuehe stood up, with a smile on his face, "General Xun, there are other truths in Mr. Luo's story, do you want to listen?"

Attracted by his father's name, Xun Luo turned around with a dazed expression, apparently not knowing what he was talking about.

"It's true that the emperor learned swordsmanship from Luo Cangxia." Amidst the alcohol, Bai Xuehe smiled like a flower, "But the truth is that he killed his teacher with the swordsmanship you are all proud of."

"The 'truth' you know is just a trick he set up to make you die." The smile gradually approached, from extremely sincere to a mean smile, "The only person who can be deceived by this kind of lie is It's just you and Luo Cangxia."