Hidden Sky Light

With the departure of Xu Jiao and the envoys of Nanshun, the sun gradually entered November.

Today's winter came earlier than usual, and it was colder. It is only the beginning of November, and it is almost as cold as the twelfth lunar month in previous years. Beijing and Zhong have estimated that it will not be long before the first snow of this year...

The cold winter came early, and Beijing Zhongzhong was already rushing to make winter clothes.

At this time in previous years, the palace would also distribute winter clothes to the officials in Beijing, which is a sympathy from the heavenly family.

But in the cold winter this year, the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of War are busy with the winter clothes for the troops stationed in the west and north, and they are overwhelmed. Even the regular winter clothes for the officials in Beijing have been put on hold. , Afraid of touching the emperor's head.

When the winter came, the gazes of Chaozhong naturally glanced at Baal in the north and Xirong in the west.

There is no movement from the two places at the moment, and I don't know if there will be any movement, but it is blocked.

The news of the border is sent to the emperor every day without interruption, and in the morning, he will spare a period of time to make a routine report to the Ministry of War.

Morning face up, Chen Ling looked at Shen Ci.

When the Ministry of War made a report, Shen Ci listened carefully, but at the rest of the time, he was mostly in a trance.

In addition to border issues, political affairs in the DPRK and China have also surged.

Because according to convention, the twelfth lunar month has a new year, and the decree cannot be implemented before the new year. What really needs to be done before the year must be properly handled in November at the latest. Therefore, as soon as November enters, the DPRK and China are busy. Suddenly turned over.

In the morning, neither the Political Affairs Hall nor the Imperial Academy was free in November.

Although in the Seven Lights, the last two days were Shumu, but Xiu Mu also avoided the early court at most, but the backlog of previous years had to be done, so during the Huomu, both the Political Affairs Hall and the Imperial Academy were in operation.

Chen Ling has never been idle.

Ning Xiang is still in Fuyang County, and will not return to Beijing until the beginning of the twelfth year. Many things in the political affairs hall are still lacking in Fang Siping, and Fang Siping is also busy with Enke next year. For Enke in March and April, all matters must be finalized before November, and then official documents will be issued to the states and counties in turn. Before the end of the year, they must arrive in each state and county, and the Enke at the beginning of next year will be able to proceed smoothly.

Therefore, Chen Ling spends almost all of his time in the Hall of Lihe, except for the morning court.

Usually, after leaving the Lihe Palace, I can go to the Chaoyang Palace to see Anian. Since entering November, it has been noon, and Fang mama has brought Anian to the Lihe Palace to see her.

A Nian, Fang Mama and Qi Shan are all used to the rhythm of the emperor every November, and often at this time of the year, the emperor who is gentle and self-controlled on weekdays will have a "swoosh" temper. .

But this year seems to be different...

Qishan knew very well that it was because of General Shen's presence.

Although the emperor was so busy every day that he didn't see General Shen for a long time, when General Shen left, most of the emperor's eyes were full of smiles.

***

Here in Shen Ci, the ban on the army is almost straightened out.

He was originally the commander-in-chief of the garrison at the border. The situation at the border was much more complicated than that in Beijing, and most of the major border towns were under the command of the garrison commander. However, when it came to the forbidden army, most of the energy was on guarding the safety of Gyeonggi and the emperor.

These days, he has almost figured out the relationship between the inside and outside of the Imperial Army.

Compared with the border gates, the most difficult thing to manage in the Imperial Army is this group of children from aristocratic families.

The borders are bitter and cold, and the children of noble families may not be willing to go, and the family may not be willing to let them go; but the embargo is a good job, and if there are no major changes and dangers at the feet of the emperor, a year or two of gold plating will also find out the doorway in Beijing. .

These children of aristocratic families control the forbidden army, and the atmosphere of the forbidden army is very difficult.

But right now, there is still Ziyiwei in Beijing.

There are comparisons all the time and everywhere. The imperial guards in Beijing were originally bloody, and these children of aristocratic families were able to fight with Ziyiwei when they were stimulated.

So sometimes some conflict is a good thing.

He and Shi Huaiyuan are both easy to do.

In addition, Shen Ci was the real frontier commander. On the first day of the Imperial Army, Zhao Lunchi, who was showing off his might in the future, was beaten up, and the emperor didn't say a word.

And almost every day, Shen Ci would appear on the campus of the East-West Camp of the Imperial Guard, as well as at the patrol office.

Shen Ci can also be seen on the rotating duty in the palace, guarding the suburbs of Beijing, guarding the central Beijing, and Shen Ci is also there, so in the hearts of the Imperial Guard, Shen Ci is the real commander of the Imperial Guard, not a temporary post, nor is it gilded, it is true In charge of the forbidden army.

Earlier in the capital, the forbidden army, who had eaten and drank without a master, seemed to want to have three heads and six arms to grab all of Ziyiwei's work, and it would be better to ride on Ziyiwei's head.

In particular, the head of their Ziyiwei is still a woman!

But their head is General Shen!

…

In this way, but for more than a month, Shen Ci already has a high prestige in the Imperial Army of Beijing.

Dai Jingjiehe, the deputy envoy of the left avant-garde in charge of the Eastern Camp of the Imperial Guard, and Guan Shubo, the deputy envoy of the right avant-garde in charge of the western battalion of the Imperial Guard, are Shen Ci's right-hand man.

By mid-November, Shen Ci was inspecting the Dongdaying school grounds, and Xiao Wuxing hurried to the school grounds, "General, the pony sent by General Han has arrived!"

Shen Ci smiled, and he asked Han Guan to pick up the pony foal for A Nian.

"Look at this, I still have something to do. I'll go back to the palace first." Shen Ci wanted to see A Nian.

Dai Jingjie said with a smile, "General, Yulan Pavilion around dusk, today's birthday, I invite my brothers to have a drink."

"Okay, I'll be there." Shen Ci responded.

"Where is the little pony?" Shen Ciyue got on his horse after leaving the East Camp of the Forbidden Army.

Xiao Wu also jumped on his horse, "It's in the palace! I have everything set up, according to what the general prepared for the young master earlier, you can use it first, and if there are rules in the palace, you can take it slowly. Make up, the general can just take it away."

These things do not need to be explained in the hands of Xiao Wu.

It's almost noon now, A Nian will take a nap later, and when he returns to the Shen residence to check the colt carefully, and then enters the palace, A Nian should wake up almost.

Before returning to Beijing, Ah Nian was looking forward to the little pony, and it finally came today.

This pony, he must like it.

Back at the Shen residence, Shen Ci carefully checked the little pony.

Xiao Wu smiled aside, "General, I have read it carefully, from start to finish, from top to bottom."

Shen Ci glanced at him, "Then I have to take a look too."

Xiao Wu scratched his head, "Yes, His Royal Highness, of course, be cautious."

Shen Ci looked at him and said softly, "He's still young."

While Shen Ci was still checking, Xiao Wu stepped forward and said, "General, you are very special to the prince!"

Shen Ci looked at him again, "I'm not good to you?"

Xiao Wu laughed loudly, "It's okay!"

After finishing speaking, Xiao Wu hissed lightly, "No, General, the prince is only three years old. You compare the three-year-old prince with me."

Shen Ci smiled, "Well, you are not as sensible as the prince."

"Tsk tsk tsk," Xiao Wu couldn't help sighing, "General, you protect His Highness like this, I don't know, I thought..."

Speaking of this, Xiaowu Xiaowu hurriedly covered his mouth and recited the secret of life-saving eight characters, "Cause comes from your mouth, be careful with your words and deeds."

But Shen Ci was really in a good mood today and didn't say anything about him.

Xiao Wu still couldn't hold back, "General, there is something I shouldn't say..."

"Then don't say it."

Xiao Wu's face turned blue, but he moved closer, "General, I think the prince looks a bit like you..."

Shen Ci was stunned, then turned to look at him.

The corner of Xiao Wu's mouth twitched, "The prince really looks like a little general."

Shen Ci didn't pay any attention to him, but took the pony straight out of the palace and went to the palace.

Xiao Wu sighed in his heart.

…

Xiao Wu did not enter the palace with Shen Ci, and Shen Ci led the pony and walked to the palace.

Along the way, I was thinking about Xiao Wufangcai's words.

Xiao Wu is right, A Nian is like him, Xiao Wu will think about it, and others will think too.

There should have been rumors and rumors in Beijing long ago, and if not, there will be soon...

Shen Ci lowered his eyes.

***

"Choose it!" A Nian wakes up from a nap every day, originally when he is the most irritable when he wakes up. But today, Mammy Fang told him that the pony that General Shen gave to His Highness arrived, and General Shen took the pony to wait for His Highness at the racecourse in the palace. Anian cheered and cheered, not to mention how excited he was.

There are special riding clothes for horseback riding, but A Nian is still young and has not participated in the autumn hunting before. Originally, he should participate in the autumn hunting this year. As a result, the Huaicheng Rebellion broke out, so the autumn hunting was cancelled. , so, but when Mommy Fang took out that little riding suit, "Wow~" Ah Nian almost jumped up on the bed!

"Where did this come from!" Anian was excited.

Madam Fang said, "General Shen specially prepared it for His Highness, and it can be worn according to His Highness's size in the past two months."

Ah Nian put on the riding suit at the most cooperative speed in history. Although he wore a jacket in winter, it did not hinder his good looks and spirit!

Seeing that, Mama Fang couldn't stop smiling, "His Royal Highness looks really good in this outfit."

"Can I let the emperor come?" A Nian always wanted Chen Ling to see him.

Mommy Fang smiled and said, "Your Majesty will be busy for the rest of the month. This old slave asks His Majesty to talk to His Majesty to see if His Majesty can find time to go to the racecourse."

"Okay~" Ah Nian cheered.

When the carriage arrived, "Uncle Shen!"

Anian exclaimed and rushed over.

"Wow~" When I saw the foal again, my eyes lit up, "This pony looks so good, and its legs are so short~"

Shen Ci replied, "This is a pony, and His Highness rides just fine."

"Does it have a name?" Children's concerns are always different.

"Yes." Shen Ci half squatted down and was at the same height as him, "Your Highness can also name him."

A Nian opened her eyes wide and asked curiously, "What's its name?"

"Early summer." Shen Ci replied gently.

"I like this name, Uncle Shen!" Anian was excited.

"That's called early summer." Shen Ci said warmly.

"Uncle Shen, can I ride it?" Anian couldn't wait.

Shen Ci smiled and said, "His Royal Highness, he is your horse, you must know him first."

Anian was surprised, "How do you know it?"

"Come." Shen Ci hugged him and got up.

Although it is a pony, it is much taller than A Nian. Shen Ci picked him up, and he sat on Shen Ci's lap, just enough to reach Chu Xia.

A Nian's eyes were full of smiles.

He wanted to get close to Chu Xia, but he didn't know how to get close to Chu Xia, so he finally looked at Shen Ci, "Uncle Shen, what should I do?"

Chu Xia's reins are in Shen Ci's hands, and Shen Ci is taking care of them, so there will be no problem.

Shen Ci said to him, "You can touch Chuxia and become familiar with it."

Anian was both excited and a little scared. He wanted to reach out, but some didn't dare to. He looked at Shen Ci with anticipation, and Shen Ci said with a gentle smile, "Come on, don't be afraid, Uncle Shen is with you."

Ah Nian nodded hurriedly.

Shen Ci held his little hand, and took his little hand to stroke Chu Xia's mane a little, "Shh, don't be too loud, it has to get familiar with your voice slowly."

"Yeah." Ah Nian nodded again like a chicken pecking at rice.

Just at the border, Shen Ci knew how to get acquainted with a colt. On the way to the palace, Shen Ci had been familiar with Chu Xia for a long time. Just now at the racecourse, he basically understood Chu Xia's temper, so his heart was clear.

Anian is different.

This was a novel feeling that had never been seen before, and A Nian's eyes lit up, but he didn't dare to speak aloud, for fear of scaring Chu Xia.

Chu Xia would go back a little at first, but soon, as if familiar with the temperature of his palm, he didn't step back much.

Shen Ci slowly let go and let him stroke Chu Xia's mane a little bit from top to bottom.

"Your Highness can try to talk to Chu Xia." Shen Ci continued to encourage him.

A Nian looked at Chu Xia, "Early summer and early summer~"

After A Nian finished speaking, she looked at Shen Ci again, "Is that so?"

Shen Ci nodded, "Continue."

A Nian really began to really talk to Chu Xia, "Chu Xia Chu Xia ~ My name is A Nian..."

Shen Ci looked at him and smiled.

A Nian is young, has the best innocence of children, and also has the most sincere expectations and longings, so everything is beautiful and worth looking forward to.

While A Nian stroked Chu Xia, she talked to Chu Xia for a long time.

Shen Ci took him to feed Chu Xia again, and watching Chu Xia graze, Ah Nian couldn't stop laughing.

In the end, Shen Ci carried him onto Chu Xia's horse, supported him with one hand and the reins with the other, and whispered, "Do you remember what I just said?"

A Nian nodded, "Hold the reins, don't be afraid, look straight ahead, and pay attention to the early summer."

"Okay, Uncle Shen is supporting you, don't be afraid, let Chu Xia carry you." After Shen Ci finished, A Nian nodded.

Ah Nian really wasn't very afraid. He had to say yes, but he was only a little nervous.

When he was in Fuyang County, and when he returned to Beijing from Miaocheng, Shen Ci often took him to ride with him, and he even rode a fast horse, so Ah Nian was not afraid; A little apprehensive.

"Are you okay?" Horseshoe took a few steps and Shen Ci asked him.

The corners of Anian's mouth raised, "It's very good~"

Shen Ci couldn't help laughing, "Then let's continue."

"Okay~"

…

Chen Ling looked at their father and son from a distance, with Qi Shan and Aunt Fang behind him.

Mommy Fang smiled and said, "Why does Your Majesty have time today?"

Chen Ling replied, "I've been talking about it for a long time, I want to ride a horse with Shen Ci, I'll come and see."

Fang Momo sighed, "His Royal Highness is overjoyed, the corner of his mouth has never fallen, it has been raised."

Qi Shan also said, "Your Majesty, look at it for a while?"

Chen Ling shook his head, "No, there are still some things to do, Mommy Fang, watch for me."

"Yes!" Fang mama responded.

Chen Ling turned around, she had a lot of things to do today, but she still couldn't help wanting to see Shen Ci and him. Not far away, Chen Ling stopped again and looked back, just to see Shen Ci looking at her.

Seeing her turn around and look over, Shen Ci couldn't help but smile.

She also smiled.

After a little while, she looked at each other and smiled, she turned back to Lihe Palace, and he continued to accompany Anian.

The "giggling" laughter in Ah Nian's mouth seemed to make people tired.

***

Around dusk, Shen resigned from the Magnolia Pavilion.

Today, Dai Jingjie's birthday, Yode are all generals in the forbidden army. He is the leader. He naturally wants to go, but he came out of the palace late. By the time he arrived, he had already drunk three tours. He was asked to give him a fine, but he couldn't let it go. He was poured many cups one after another, and they all drank a little anxiously.

Dai Jingjie was the host, respected him the most, and drank the most.

I left the table halfway to get some air, and I haven't come back for a long time.

Although nothing would happen in the Magnolia Pavilion, Shen Ci was careful and left the pavilion to find him.

I saw him vomit alone on the side of the terrace.

I was too drunk today and no one took care of me, so Shen Ci stepped forward, "Is it alright."

Dai Jingjie shook his head and continued.

Fortunately, Shen Ci is here.

In winter, there were very few people on the terrace, and Shen Ci stayed with him all the time. After a while, he heard three or four people talking on the other side of the terrace.

Because of the light behind his back, no one could see who he was. Shen Ci didn't care at first, but only later heard the other party's voice vaguely, "Have you heard, Shen Zi'an seems to be somewhat close to the Son of Heaven."

Shen Ci was stunned.

Another person said, "You should be quiet and open your mouth."

They all smelled of alcohol, and they spoke unscrupulously, "What are you afraid of, even if he is silent, there is nothing to say, I am afraid that the dragon bed has already climbed over, so are you afraid of this?"

"I heard people say that the prince and Shen Ci look alike..."

The man said earlier, "It's not easy to guess. Either the emperor found a woman according to Shen Ci, or he found Shen Ci according to a woman, what do you think?"

Several people laughed.

Shen Ci's face slowly sank.

"Ren Shen Ci has rescued the Son of Heaven. He is a celebrity in front of the Son of Heaven. The Son of Heaven's harem has been vacant for so long. What's wrong with someone now?"

The surrounding laughter resumed.

"Shen Ci is also willing?"

"I think that when I was in the East Palace earlier, Shen Ci and the emperor were not clear, and if it was not good, they were mixed together; or, Licheng had been scared for four years and came back to the emperor to admit his mistake. , No, the commander of the Imperial Army is doing it comfortably..."

"Also, people have the ability to serve the emperor comfortably, but haven't they married yet?"

"Hey, how do you marry this? People of the Son of Heaven, are you putting up trouble for the Son of Heaven?"

Among the laughter around, Dai Jingjie should have just finished spitting up, and when he heard the last few words, he was immediately annoyed, "I'm **** your uncle! I won't beat you to death! You guys are tired of **** living! The boss dares to make rumors! I won't beat you to death!"

The incident happened suddenly, and before Shen Ci could react, Dai Jingjie had already rushed up to beat someone!

Earlier, those few people hadn't figured out who they were, but when they saw the person beside him being pushed to the ground and beaten away, the person who was beaten obviously drank too much, so who was Dai Jingjie's opponent.

When others saw that it was Dai Jingjie, they were all startled. Dai Jingjie was originally a person who was not easy to mess with, and was still a member of the Imperial Army...

There was chaos on the terrace, Shen Ci stepped forward and pulled Dai Jingjie up, "Jingjie!"

Dai Jingjie was pulled by him, and he rushed forward again, and punched him a few times according to the man. At first, he wanted to be annoyed, but suddenly remembered that it was Shen Cizai, "Boss?"

This…

Several people around were frightened out of cold sweat.

"Get up." Shen Ci dragged Dai Jingjie up, and those people were shaking with fright, "Shen, General Shen!"

Shen Ci is also there, that's just what he said...

Several people gasped, and Dai Jingjie felt disgusted in his heart, these bastards!

Shen Ci looked at these people in turn, a few people shuddered, and Shen Ci said in a low voice, "Don't get out?"

These people ran away in a hurry.

Then Dai Jingjie looked at Shen Ci, "Boss!"

Shen Ci stretched out his hand to pull him up, "The mouth grows on people, what can you do if you beat them to death?"

Dai Jingjie was stunned, "But they..."

Dai Jingjie said angrily, "Others don't know, don't we the banned army know? How many things the boss has done, who in the banned army doesn't know? The face of the boss is not the face of the banned army!"

Shen Ci was about to respond when the footsteps of "dong dong dong dong" came from behind him, it was Guan Shubo, "Boss, your child is here and has been crying."

Both Shen Cidu and Dai Jingjie stopped.

His child?

Guan Shubo smiled and said, "Little Wu! Boss, isn't it your child?"

Xiao Wu was young, and he followed Shen Ci all day long. Guan Shubo and the others kept taking care of Xiao Wu's children.

"You mean Xiao Wu has been crying?" Shen Ci was surprised.

Guan Shubo nodded, "Yeah, he said he was looking for a boss, but he didn't say anything and kept crying."

Shen Ci's intuition was wrong.

Five will not.

At the moment, Shen Ci couldn't care less about Dai Jingjie here, so he went downstairs.

Dai Jingjie and Guan Shubo both followed.

Under the Yulan attic, the rest of the generals of the Imperial Guard surrounded Xiao Wu, "Xiao Wu, who bullied you, tell the brothers, the brothers beat him for you!"

"That's right, don't cry! What are the men crying!"

"Don't cry, the boss will be here soon!"

Several people were talking to comfort, Shen Ci just came down, and saw that Xiao Wu was not crying, but his eyes were swollen from crying, and the whole person was shaking. Several people around were helping him.

Shen Ci froze, Xiao Wu went to the battlefield with him, and climbed among the dead, but he didn't cry like that even if he almost lost his life.

The last time was when Lao Qi died...

Shen Ci's bad premonition welled up in his heart, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Wu should be stunned from crying, or the crying is blurred in front of his eyes. He just saw him clearly, and then he reached out and wiped his eyes fiercely, and said in a trembling voice, "Something happened, General... something happened..."

Shen Ci's heart suddenly sank, and he saw Xiao Wu shaking all over, "General, brother Xue Chao is gone..."

"What did you say?" Shen Ci thought he heard it wrong.

Xiao Wu couldn't bear it any longer, and cried out with a wow, "Brother Xue Chao is gone, he is gone..."

Xiao Wu was speechless, and only tremblingly stretched out his hand and handed him the letter in his hand.

Shen Ci took it, his face ashen.

I can also clearly recognize the black and white writing, which is Guo Zixiao's handwriting...

The sound of "hum" in Shen Ci's mind seemed to be blank, his eyes seemed to be out of control, the bottom of his heart was like a blunt weapon, and he couldn't breathe.