Hidden Sky Light

The carriage traveled to Guancheng, almost around dusk.

As before, the carriage stopped for a while outside the city of Guancheng. Shen Ci got off the carriage to check the marks left by Xue Chao. The carriage was always within his line of sight to ensure that there would be no problems.

In the carriage, Anian looked at Chen Ling and asked curiously, "What did Uncle Shen do?"

Chen Ling didn't want to hide these things from him, and told him truthfully, "Do you remember Xue Chao?"

A Nian nodded, "Remember Uncle Xue Chao."

Chen Ling continued, "Because there may be danger on the road, Xue Chao left us one night ahead of schedule. On this route we are passing now, Xue Chao has been there in advance and helped us explore it, so he will be at the agreed place. Leave the signs for us, Shen Ci is to read these signs. If it is stable, we will enter the city; if it is not stable, we may go to the next place, understand? "

Ah Nian smiled and nodded, "Understood."

Chen Ling frowned slightly, "What are you laughing at?"

A Nian sat up straight, "Dad, you are different~"

Chen Ling was slightly stunned, "Why am I different?"

A Nian smiled and said, "Let's not talk about Zhen, we are talking about us, after Uncle Shen came."

Chen Ling: "…"

Chen Ling narrowed his eyes in surprise, and said calmly, "There is a reason for this, isn't it unstable now? Naturally, you have to be careful everywhere, even if you change your name, it should be changed. What does it have to do with Shen Ci?"

Shen Ci just turned back, and just heard this sentence when he lifted the curtain.

"Uncle Shen!" Anian's eyes were sharp.

Chen Ling: "…"

Shen Ci glanced at her, and heard the last sentence without hearing it before, but Shen Ci hid something in his eyes and didn't ask more, Chen Ling saw that Shen Ci's face was not as relaxed as before.

Sure enough, Shen Ci said solemnly, "Xue Chao has passed through Guancheng, it may not be safe, it's best not to settle in Guancheng, we have to keep walking forward, it's getting dark, the road may not be easy to walk, A Ling, we have to discuss with Uncle Fu first. write."

Chen Ling understood and said to Anian, "You stay in the carriage."

A Nian nodded obediently.

Shen Ci raised the curtain and called out, "Uncle Fu."

Uncle Fu stepped forward and saw that Shen Ci and Chen Ling were both there, knowing that the schedule might have changed, "Second Master, the master."

Shen Ci said straight to the point, "Uncle Fu, it may be inconvenient in Guancheng City right now, we're going to the next place."

"The next place?" Uncle Fu is familiar with Fuyang County. The business of Zihua Embroidery Workshop is all over Fuyang County, so Yun Niang asked Uncle Fu to come with him. Uncle Fu frowned, "Second Master, Master, please later."

For a person like Uncle Fu who runs outside all the year round, he always carries a topographic map with him.

Moreover, Uncle Fu's topographic map is different from Shen Ci's. The maps are all related to the distance, time, and itinerary avoidance. It is a map commonly used by business people.

Uncle Fu is actually very familiar with the map, and it is confirmed now.

After taking a second glance, Uncle Fu sighed, "I remember correctly, Second Master, the main family, if you look at the short distance, there are no towns in front of you, only a few villages are there, if you don't mind, there are a few villages. It's just that I have been to some of these villages, some have not been, and the map can't be detailed, so I can only go and look at them. Second Master, it's getting late, and we need to make a decision as soon as possible."

Shen Ci and Chen Ling both looked at the map in Uncle Fu's hand. There are indeed several roads leading to different villages, far and near, and there will be some detours.

Shen Ci said in a deep voice, "First look for a village to see, if it is not stable, and you are not afraid of sleeping in the wild, if you know that it is inconvenient to go back to the city, you will lose more than your gain."

Chen Ling nodded, "I think the same as you, choose the nearest place, it's already night, the night road is not as stable as the day, settle down as soon as possible, find a place where you can get there fastest, and stay there when you get there. If you stay, you can’t stay and think of other ways. If you go far, you will have less room for choice.”

"Yes." Uncle Fu also understood what Chen Ling meant.

Shen Ci didn't object, "Uncle Fu, let's go now, it's hard to walk at night, it's hard work Uncle Fu."

Uncle Fu smiled and said, "Second Master, don't worry, you often walk at night when you are running business, but it's bumpy. For safety's sake, it's not so fast. I guess it will take more than an hour or two. Wait, I'm afraid it will be a long time into the night. already."

Shen Ci also smiled, "Uncle Fu, hard work, I'll take care of the other things."

Uncle Fu should be fine.

Chen Ling listened to Shen Ci talking to Uncle Fu, and the familiarity and stability in his heart surged again.

Whenever Shen Ci is in…

"Let's go." This sentence, Shen Ci said to her.

Chen Ling got into the carriage with him.

After the two of them were seated, Uncle Fu took the carriage and set off on the road. It was still dusk, and the light dust outside the car window was dancing in the sunset, and it would take some time to fall into the night.

There will be more than an hour on the road, and I will be hungry.

Shen Ci took out a few pieces of dry food from the bag on one side.

A Nian's eyes lit up and cheered, "Scallion pancakes!"

A Nian recognized the scallion pancakes he had eaten in the herbal tea shop at noon, Chen Ling looked at Shen Ci, and Shen Ci replied, "I am afraid of accidents on the road, so when I leave at noon, I will let Xiao Er pack the things that are too hot and too oily. I can still save most of the day, I will deal with it first and wait until the swimming village."

Chen Ling and A Nian took it together.

Shen Ci is used to being meticulous and thorough, just like in memory, almost unchanged...

There were four scallion pancakes in total, two for Ah Nian, one for her, and one for Shen Ci.

"Why don't you use it?" Chen Ling looked at him.

Shen Ci smiled and said, "For Uncle Fu, I'm not hungry yet."

As soon as Shen Ci finished speaking, Anian exclaimed, "It's so delicious!"

Chen Ling and Shen Ci couldn't help laughing, Chen Ling reminded, "A Nian, be quiet..."

A Nian nodded quickly.

Shen Ci smiled again, raised the curtain, got out of the carriage and handed the scallion pancake to Uncle Fu.

When I turned back, I happened to hear Ah Nian whispering to Chen Ling, "Really, it's even better than the chef's cooking."

Chen Ling reached out and stroked his head, feeling distressed and guilty, "You are hungry."

Anian pouted, "meaningful" and said, "I won't be picky eaters in the future. I will eat whatever Mommy Fang tells me to eat, and I won't fight against her."

Chen Ling was very angry and funny.

Shen Ci also looked at Anian warmly.

Inexplicably, I feel that A Nian and Chen Ling have very similar temperaments...

After A Nian finished speaking, he sighed again, but after the long sigh, he said again, "I want to eat Babao duck..."

"Well, I'm greedy." Chen Ling commented.

A Nian longed, "Father, when we go back, can we just eat Babao duck?"

Chen Ling embraced him, "You can eat whatever you want."

Anian is happy.

Shen Ci actually saw that their father and son had a very good relationship. Right now, although A Nian is sticking to him, it is because of freshness, maybe because...

However, the closeness between A Nian and Chen Ling is due to the closeness that they get along with day and night, and both of them are the most important people to each other.

He will not fail to understand.

A Nian is with him, but as long as Chen Ling calls A Nian, A Nian cannot leave Chen Ling...

In his random thoughts, he heard A Nian's voice and asked him, "Uncle Shen, do you like eating Babao duck?"

"I like it." Shen Ci didn't hesitate.

Shen Ci also remembered Chen Ling's favorite.

But Ah Nian sighed, "My father never eats Babao duck~"

Shen Ci was surprised, how could it be? Not your favorite?

Shen Ci looked at her, but Chen Ling didn't say anything.

Shen Ci seemed to think of something, and was slightly stunned, then he didn't mention it again.

The sun slowly went down, and the night came one after another. Shen Ci got up and said, "It's night, I'll help you watch with Uncle Fu."

Chen Ling should be fine.

Shen Ci lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, and rode together with Uncle Fu. It's easy to get sleepy on the road at night, and it happens that someone is talking together, Uncle Fu is also more energetic, and Shen Ci can help take care of it.

In the carriage, A Nian was playing with the bamboo dragonfly that Shen Ci made for him today.

Chen Ling leaned against the corner of the carriage and remembered what happened a long time ago.

At that time, it had just moved from the Prince's Mansion to the East Palace.

How can there be a prince's mansion in the East Palace?

Even the daily food consumption is very important, and the historian records it on one side, and there are the prince's grandfather, as well as the in-house attendant who is in charge, all will explain to Chen Ling, and can't show his favorite food, and he doesn't like certain foods. preference for things.

Shen Ci knew that Chen Ling had always been picky eaters.

Suddenly at the East Palace, Chen Ling was a little stunned.

One day, he couldn't stand it anymore, "Would you like to eat Babao duck?"

"Yes!" She didn't even think about it, and then became frustrated, "but it's all about this time..."

Shen Ci smiled, "Come over the wall... I watched it for a few days and knew the time of the shift change of the forbidden army, so I asked Huaiyuan to take cover, and we slipped out of the Magnolia Pavilion to eat Babao duck."

Earlier, there were a lot of things that I did secretly in the Prince's Palace. When it was the first time in the East Palace, Chen Ling was a little worried, "No, there is something wrong..."

She was a little scared.

Shen Ci smiled, "Don't say anything."

Thinking of this, at the moment, in the carriage, Chen Ling couldn't help but put a smile on the corner of his mouth...

At that time, I really went over the wall with Shen Ci.

Where will she turn? All Shen Ci took her.

When she left the East Palace, she was so excited that she couldn't describe it, "Brother Zi'an~ really slipped out."

Shen Ci smiled.

Although she was sneaky, when she was eating Babao duck in Yulan Pavilion, it seemed as if everything in the East Palace was left behind. She hadn't eaten Babao duck for a long time, and she was so greedy that she ate it while saying, "In the future, in the palace, I will eat it every day. make this dish."

Shen Ci sighed, "Be careful of choking."

Chen Ling originally wanted to refute him, but a duck choked in his throat!

Chen Ling's face flushed red, tears came out, and he couldn't breathe, but Shen Ci looked away, Chen Ling could only reach out and grab him, and when Shen Ci came back to his senses, he was almost suffocated when he saw Chen Ling.

Shen Ci patted her back. With great difficulty, Chen Ling swallowed it and broke out in a cold sweat, "If you're not here again, I won't dare to eat Babao duck..."

She was afraid of choking.

Shen Ci was funny, "I gave up eating because of choking..."

Chen Ling and Shen Ci both thought of this in their minds.

It was just that Chen Ling was in the carriage, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Shen Ci was outside the carriage, and A Nian's earlier words were in his ears, my father never eats Babao duck~

- I don't even dare to eat Babao duck when you're not here~

Shen Ci narrowed his eyes, his eyes hidden in the night.

***

After a long time at night, the carriage slowly drove into the swimming village.

When Xue Chao leaves from Guancheng, he will continue to move forward, but he will go to the main road. The swimming village where they are now is not the main road, and there are detours, so there will be no sign of Xue Chao.

But fortunately, Uncle Fu came earlier, was familiar with the place, and led everyone to the village where they settled down earlier.

There was only one elderly man in the family named Deng Weng.

Deng Weng is simple, recognizes Uncle Fu, and greets a few people warmly. When Uncle Fu mentions that he has never eaten, Deng Weng sighs, "There is only Yangchun noodles."

Shen Ci smiled, "If you have a job, Deng Weng, let's face it."

Uncle Fu knew the place in the village. When Deng Weng went down to the spring, Uncle Fu went to the place next to the village to feed the horses with grass and water.

As soon as Uncle Fu left, only Deng Weng, Shen Ci, Chen Ling and Anian were left in the garden.

Deng Weng did a good job, and Shen Ci helped to carry it.

Chen Ling ate very gently, A Nian was hungry, and Shen Ci was in the army, so he used it quickly, but not frizzy.

After using it, Shen Ci asked Deng Weng, "By the way, Deng Weng, I want to ask, is the doctor in the village far away?"

"Second master is ill?" Deng Weng asked, and called out second master together with Uncle Fu.

Shen Ci said, "No, the weather has been hot these past two days, and the children at home have rashes on their necks, and I want the doctor to take a look."

Chen Ling looked at him, Shen Ci remembered that the two of them talked about A Nian in the carriage this morning...

Chen Ling also looked at Deng Weng.

"Yo, if there is a rash on the neck because of the heat, I have medicine here. If you don't dislike it, you can use it." Deng Weng replied.

Shen Ci asked again, "Can the child use it?"

Deng Weng nodded, "Yes, my grandson used to use it..."

Just talking about this, as if it was suddenly broken, the whole person was stunned.

"Your grandson?" Chen Ling looked around, as if he hadn't seen anyone since.

Deng Weng smiled and said nothing.

Chen Ling thought Deng Weng didn't hear it, and was about to speak, when Shen Ci pulled her, "Thank you Deng Weng."

Deng Weng smiled and went back to the house to get the medicine.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ling looked at Shen Ci.

Shen Ci said softly, "This is Fuyang County..."

"What happened to Fuyang County?" Chen Ling still didn't understand.

Suddenly, Shen Ci realized that Chen Ling might not know it. Looking at Chen Ling's curious eyes, Shen Ci said softly, "The Son of Heaven has a lot of things to do, so he can't do everything comprehensively, and I won't let you know everything below."

Chen Ling frowned, not knowing what he meant.

Shen Ci said in a deep voice, "Fuyang County suffered from an epidemic last year, and many people died. These small villages are left unmanaged, and there are drug dealers who drive up drug prices. There is no way out and no way to ask for help. The whole village is gone, and the entire household is gone. I just remembered this when I saw Deng Weng's expression, so please don't ask, add Deng Weng's thoughts..."

This time, it was Chen Ling's turn to remain silent.

After a long time, Chen Ling whispered, "I don't know."

Shen Ci knew that she should feel uncomfortable after listening to it, and Shen Ci said again, "Yan Han is very big, the Son of Heaven is so high in the temple that he can't take care of it all the time. The following things are concealed, unspoken, and suppressed. You can’t always come to you for everything. Today is an epidemic, tomorrow is a flood, and the day after tomorrow is unjust, false and wrongful convictions… The imperial court can’t handle it, and it can’t handle everything, only local officials, parents’ officials…”

Chen Ling knew that what he said was the truth, and he was comforting her, but when she heard it in her heart, it was like a heavy stone pressing on the bottom of her heart, and she was a little breathless.

Yanhan is very big, and countless things happen every day in the DPRK and China. The year before last was her first year on the throne. At that time, she was still eliminating foreign enemies and consolidating the regime. Pingnan and Fuyang used the withdrawn military expenditures to build Mintang and water conservancy ditches. At that time, there were many voices against it in the DPRK and China, and there were also the rest of the second and third brothers. Nanguan Road Construction…

She spends all day in the affairs of the court from morning to night, and she dares not let up in a breath, and Ning Xiang is taking care of everything next to her.

Ning Xiang may not have known it, but if he knew, there were also wrong choices. Ning Xiang knew what her energy should be put on at that time...

Shen Ci said it well, Yan Han is very big, and not necessarily everything can come to her, but when she heard it, her heart was like being slashed by a blunt instrument.

The whole village, the whole household…

Chen Ling's face gradually darkened.

Shen Ci continued, "This time the southeast of Fuyang County was hit by floods, and a large number of refugees poured into the city, Fan Yu was very good, first asked the garrison to mobilize in advance, and then properly handled the refugees, there was no chaos, more Fan Yu People like Yu have fewer tragedies like Deng Weng's family."

Chen Ling finally said, "You mean, the city guard of Yucheng is Fan Yu?"

Shen Ci nodded, "Yes, he was imprisoned by the late emperor earlier for criticizing the late emperor, or you took him out of prison. Later, he worked as a pen official in places like Yucheng, and he did a little bit to become the guardian of Yucheng City. He did a lot of things and offended a lot of people. Chaozhong tried to figure out your thoughts. He couldn't get up, so he kept in Yucheng. But this time, thanks to Yucheng, who was the guardian of the city, Chaoyang County didn't make a big deal. Chaos. You have also seen the number of refugees. This time, Fuyang County suffered a lot. After the disaster, he was afraid that there would be an epidemic. Fan Yu was watched by people and the drug dealers who were driving up drug prices. His mind was clear. But Tan Jin arrives at Yucheng, and Fan Yu's life and death are uncertain right now, and Tan Jin doesn't want Yucheng to cause chaos, so he is still using Fan Yu's previous actions, and Fuyang County is not in chaos..."

Chen Ling frowned, "How do you know all this?"

Shen Ci looked at her, "Yunniang is in Li Town, and Tongjiecheng is only two hours away. Yunniang is very clear about the affairs of Fuyang County."

Chen Ling was silent again.

No wonder, the matter of Fuyang County mentioned by Shen Ci just now should not be too much, the whole village and the whole household are gone...

Seeing her pale face, Shen Ci said warmly, "A Ling."

Chen Ling said in a deep voice, "I know..."

After Chen Lingyan finished speaking, he quietly lowered his head and ate the Yanchun noodles in the bowl. He still had the elegant appearance of gentleness, but the smile from earlier was lost in his eyes...

After a while, Deng Weng took the ointment and turned back.

"Thank you Deng Weng." Shen Ci took it, and Chen Ling thanked him.

Deng Weng said with a smile, "Hands up."

After eating Yangchun noodles, Deng Weng packed up, Shen Ci and Chen Ling took Anian back to the house, Chen Ling put medicine on Anian's neck, Shen Ci was on one side, and did not come forward.

"Does it hurt?" Chen Ling was careful.

Anian shook his head, "It doesn't hurt."

"Is that itchy?" Chen Ling asked again.

A Nian still shook his head, but smiled, "It's not itchy anymore, it's cool."

Shen Ci looked at her and Anian, like ordinary father and son, one cared for and the other depended on...

After waiting for the medicine, Shen Ci stepped forward, "Let's go, go to the courtyard to digest and digest food."

He saw that Ah Nian ate a lot tonight and was afraid that he would be uncomfortable sleeping, so Ah Nian should be fine.

Chen Ling said softly, "I'm not going, you all go, I'll be in the room later..."

Shen Ci knew that she needed time to sort out her thoughts slowly, so Shen Ci hugged A Nian, "Let's go."

"Okay." A Nian should be okay.

Chen Ling sat by the window and watched the father and son walk in the garden. Because it was too late, I didn't go to the next place, so I walked back and forth in the garden. Afraid of disturbing others, he spoke softly when walking in the garden.

In Deng Weng's place, A Nian did not practice his small dagger, for fear of intimidating Deng Weng.

Chen Ling's eyes were slowly stagnant, and Shen Ci's earlier sentence was in his mind, "Yan Han is very big, and the emperor is so high in the temple that he can't take care of it all the time. The following things are concealed, unspoken, and suppressed. Yes, I can’t come to you for everything. Today is an epidemic, tomorrow is a flood, and the day after tomorrow is unjust, false and wrongful convictions… The imperial court can’t handle it, and it can’t handle everything, it can only be local officials, parents’ officials…”

Chen Ling lowered his eyes slowly.

…

Later in the day, noises came from outside the garden one after another, interrupting Chen Ling's thoughts.

It's already this time, the village shouldn't be so noisy.

When Chen Ling recovered, Shen Ci hugged A Nian into the room. Seeing that his expression was not the same as before, Chen Ling also stepped forward and closed the window in front of Chen Ling, leaving only a gap to look outside.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ling was in the house, and they didn't need to see clearly in the garden earlier.

Anian said nervously, "Father! There are many people! They are all garrisoned, and everyone is holding torches and knives!"

Chen Ling was shocked, how could it be?

A place like swimming village…

Shen Ci looked away from the window, and saw the knife and the torch approaching Deng Weng's house, just opposite Deng Weng's house, Chen Ling also saw it, Shen Ci said, "It's here to search people, it looks like the whole village will be searched, if you can't leave, Uncle Fu still If you don't come back in the carriage, there are more than 20 or 30 people here, you can't fight hard, you and Anian wait in the house and don't come out, hide them, I'll take a look first."

"Shen Ci." Chen Ling looked at him anxiously.

Shen Ci stared at her and said softly, "It's okay, I'm not sure it's just looking for us, there is still room, at least it's not the time to fight recklessly..."

After Shen Ci finished speaking, he said to Anian again, "What did you just say?"

Anian said seriously, "Get under the bed."

Shen Ci nodded and said to Chen Ling, "Unless it is a last resort, I won't do it. Later, I will block the door and window with a table. If the other party wants to forcefully enter, I can deal with these twenty or thirty people, and I must leave as soon as possible. ."

Chen Ling looked at him and knew what he meant by being able to deal with...

The other party was twenty or thirty garrisoned soldiers with knives, and Chen Ling's eyes were slightly red.

The footsteps had already entered the garden, Deng Weng's voice sounded, and there was no delay, Shen Ci said in a deep voice, "Move the table."

Chen Ling nodded.

Before leaving the room, Shen Ci stopped to look at her again, and said softly, "Don't be afraid, put on the mask..."

Chen Ling nodded again.

Shen Ci retracted his gaze, walked out of the room, closed the door, raised his eyes and looked at the torches gathered in one place in the room. Everyone who gathered the torches was a garrison. Deng Weng was obviously frightened and trembled when he spoke. .

When the garrison saw him, all eyes turned to him.

Shen Ci quickly swept over the twenty or thirty people in front of him, but his eyes were slightly stunned. If he was not mistaken, this group of people was the garrison that he met at the herbal tea shop this afternoon?

He remembered that he was going to Qucheng to deliver a letter. How could he search for people here?

Several garrison troops stepped forward, and one asked, "Where did you come from, what is your surname, what is your name, and what are you doing here?"

It is a typical routine cross-examination.

It should be Deng Weng who said that there are people from outside the family. Shen Ci was about to speak, and his eyes glanced behind these people. It was the leader of the garrison that he saw at noon today. The other party's eyes also fell on him, looking at him inquiringly. , did not make a sound, just listened to the question of the person in front of him.

Shen Ci retracted his gaze and said calmly, "The surname is Shen, Shen An, this is the way to go home to visit relatives."

The garrison leader frowned slightly.

The other party asked again, "Who else is there?"

Shen Ci said, "My family is with me, I have rested. Can you guys make it easier?"

"You're tired of living, aren't you!" The interrogator was immediately annoyed, and Ling Sheng, the garrison leader behind him, "Shut up!"

The interrogated garrison was stunned.

Shen Ci looked at the garrison leader who was pacing up to him. The garrison leader said solemnly, "I also have errands, and I hope it's convenient for everyone to do it."

All the garrisoned troops were stunned, but the leader was like this, and the others didn't dare to say a word, but they looked at Shen Ci with strange eyes.

Head... When did you talk to someone like that?

Shen Ci looked at the other party again, and suddenly guessed something in his heart - the other party may have recognized him and knew his identity. At noon, he also saw Chen Ling and A Nian with him, but he did not know Chen Ling. Ling and A Nian's identities were not exposed because the other party had other tasks and did not want to conflict with him or the Shen family.

Shen Ci quickly grasped it in his heart.

Seeing that he didn't say a word, the other party quickly grasped it in his heart.

It's easy to deal with other people, this matter can't be extravagant, and the other party is from the Shen family, so it's best not to have a conflict.

Both of them had concerns in their hearts, so they didn't move.

The torches in the garden made a beeping sound, and the atmosphere was a little tense.

The other party said again, "We are about to commit a crime and escape, we must investigate it, and we will hide in the house if we do not rule it out. As long as we have seen it, there is nothing wrong with each other, no one needs to be embarrassed, and the son's family is also safe."

The other party has said that it is close to the bottom line.

Shen Ci knew very well that the other party was the Tanzhou garrison. He should not have paid much attention to Chen Ling and Anian when they met at noon today. Right now, even if there is an assignment on the side, if he enters the house to search, he will always be concerned about Chen Ling and Anian. Impression, if there is really news of Yuuki coming, they will be exposed along the way...

In the stalemate, the other party said again, "I will investigate tonight, and I will investigate if I don't."

During the speech, several garrison troops had already drawn their knives. The atmosphere in the garden was tense and tense to the extreme. Shen Ci's brows knitted together, but suddenly he heard a soft voice from the room behind him, his throat was clear, "Husband~"

The garrison leader was stunned, and Shen Ci was also stunned, as if struck by lightning.

He turned around and looked behind him, and saw the door behind him slowly opening...