Marriage of the Di Daughter

Yanjing finally arrived at the depths of winter.

The snowflakes flying in the sky changed from grains of salt to heavy snow. The streets and alleys were covered with thick snow overnight. Thousands of miles of ice, thousands of miles of snow, the world turned silvery white. Occasionally, the yellow dog of which family was not tied tightly ran across the snow, leaving a deep plum blossom-shaped footprint.

Jiang Li was standing in the yard, with crystal icicles hanging upside down on the eaves, like the bead curtains in the beauties’ bedroom in a deep palace. When she got up early in the morning, the snow had not stopped yet, and Jiang Li was wearing a snow-white cloak, almost blending into the snow. .

"It's too cold." Tong'er woke up early in the morning to sweep snow in the yard. The iron bucket placed in the yard turned into a lump of ice overnight and stood in the middle of the yard.

Jiang Li looked at the sky, feeling worried for a while. In winter, there were no flowers in Jiang's flower garden, not even a gardener. But Jiang Li knew that Zhao Ke followed Ji Heng to do something. Jiang Li didn't know what this matter was. Ji Heng didn't tell Jiang Li when he left Yanjing City. On the contrary, Zhao Ke reminded Jiang Li when he left Jiang's mansion, indicating that he was not in Jiang's mansion these days. be careful.

If Ji Heng didn't tell Jiang Li, it was either because it wasn't worth mentioning, or because the matter was so important that he didn't want Jiang Li to worry too much. Although it may be that to Ji Heng, most things in the world are not worth mentioning to him, but this time, Jiang Li sensitively noticed the difference from the past from Zhao Ke's expression.

This matter may be more important than she imagined, and after more than ten days in a row, Zhao Ke did not appear in Jiang's residence, and there was no news of Ji Heng.

Jiang Li always felt a little uneasy in her heart. She thought about it, and decided to take the initiative to go to the Duke's Mansion. At least General Ji is still there, so she can ask General Ji. If it's not enough, maybe Situ Jiuyue or Wen Renyao, Lu Ji can know a little bit.

"Let's go to the Duke's Mansion." Jiang Li said.

Tong'er and Baixue didn't understand, thinking that Jiang Li had something to go to Jiheng. Now Jiang Li and Ji Heng are married by His Majesty himself, so there is nothing wrong with doing so. Yanjing City is not like the previous dynasty. Girls before marriage are not allowed to see their husbands, so it is understandable for Jiang Li to do so. Mrs. Jiang learned about it, but she didn't say anything, she just told Jiang Li to go back early.

Jiang Li took the carriage and went to the Duke's Mansion with Tonger Baixue.

On the streets, there are playful urchins everywhere, and the happiest children in winter are probably the children, who can roll in the snow. The bright red candied haws are extraordinarily bright in the white snow.

The lanterns in front of the Duke's Mansion were as gorgeous and bright as ever. When the servant at the gate of the mansion saw Jiang Li approaching, a big smile appeared on his face. This was Jiang Li's first visit to the Duke's Mansion after being given a marriage, and everyone in the Duke's Mansion knew that Jiang Li would be the Duke's wife in the future. There has been no mistress in this mansion for many years, and if there is one more, it is rare to see more.

Jiang Li walked in, and she didn't need anyone to lead the way, and walked outside Ji Heng's yard. Sure enough, there was no sign of Ji Heng, nor Wen Ji and Zhao Ke in the yard - he really hasn't returned to Beijing yet.

Thinking of this, Jiang Li found a servant at the door of the study and asked, "Is General Ji in the mansion right now?"

The boy shook his head and was about to answer when Jiang Li heard a familiar voice behind him, "He's missing."

Jiang Li turned her head, and Situ Jiuyue came out from behind. She was also holding a bamboo basket in her hand, as if she was going to pick flowers in the flower garden. In winter, she also wore a wolfskin jacket and skirt, still dark brown, moccasin boots, and plum blossom thorns tied around her waist. She clearly had beautiful and lively eyebrows, but she was dressed so that no strangers would approach her.

"Miss Jiuyue." Jiang Li said, Situ Jiuyue lived in the Duke's mansion all year round, because the flower garden of the Duke's mansion had her ingredients for refining medicine, she asked: "You just said that old general Ji is missing?"

"Yes." Situ Jiuyue said: "The day after Ji Heng left Yanjing, General Ji disappeared. Kong Liu and Lu Ji sent people to look for him, but he has not been found yet."

Jiang Li's heart tightened: "It was someone..."

"No." Situ Jiuyue said, "He took the sword from the study."

Jiang Li's heart did not relax because of this. Since Old General Ji took the sword, it can be seen that he left by himself. Why take a sword, the first thought of ordinary people is probably revenge. But Old General Ji is old, why is this so. Jiang Li said: "Miss Jiuyue, do you know what exactly Ji Heng is going to do when he leaves Yanjing City this time? Are Lord Lu and Lord Kong not here? Maybe Mr. Wenren can also know something."

"I don't know what he's going to do, he didn't tell me. Maybe he told Lu Ji and Kong Liu, but they won't tell you either, because they are not in the Duke's mansion now, I don't know where they went. I only know that Ji Heng is doing a very important thing, which is very dangerous, and the fewer people who know about it, the better."

When Jiang Li heard this, she was not dissatisfied with Situ Jiuyue's answer. She knew that Ji Heng didn't tell her that it wasn't because he didn't trust her. It was because Ji Heng valued her too much that she hoped that she would not be implicated.

This person... is always used to doing everything alone, even if he is misunderstood.

Jiang Li sighed in her heart, it seemed that she was helpless. No one knew about Ji Heng's situation.

Situ Jiuyue didn't continue talking to Jiang Li, but went to the flower garden and started picking flowers. The flowers in the Duke's Mansion are still very fresh in winter, but they are different from ordinary flowers. They grow in strange shapes, some are flat and long, some look like animals, and some even fiddle with them. tremble. Jiang Li couldn't help, she didn't know which flowers Situ Jiuyue was going to pick, so she had to watch from the sidelines. Looking at it, I thought of the rumors about the Duke's Mansion.

She said: "At first, I thought that Ji Heng collected strange flowers in the mansion because of Aihua, but now it seems that the reason why Ji Heng spent a lot of money in the flower garden to collect so many strange flowers is because Miss Jiuyue is easy to refine poison. Or these flowers were actually collected by Miss Jiuyue, but she borrowed Ji Heng's name."

Jiheng's two hobbies are flowers and theater. But if he really loves flowers, how can he be so harsh, and he still finds poisonous flowers that are rare in the world, rather than saying that what he collects are the raw materials for refining poisons in the world. The raw materials are obviously useless to Ji Heng, and he doesn't know how to make poison, so it can be seen that they are prepared for Situ Jiuyue.

"No, these are indeed collected by Ji Heng, but the purpose is indeed for me to refine medicine, because he hopes that I can refine a strange poison to wake up his father."

Jiang Li's eyes widened. This was the first time she heard about it. According to rumors, Ji Minghan returned to the mansion back then, and left Beijing after learning the news of Yu Hongye's death, and never appeared again. Everyone in the world has rumored that he died a long time ago, but what does Situ Jiuyue mean, that Ji Minghan is still alive?

How is this going?

"He...General Jinwu is still alive?" Jiang Li asked.

"No, he's dead." Situ Jiuyue was pulling out a blue flower. She was very careful and used a small shovel to dig up the soil next to the flower so that the roots would not be hurt when picking the flowers.

"But... didn't you just say..." Jiang Li couldn't understand.

"Because I failed to refine that kind of poison, Ji Heng's father not only did not wake up, but also died of poison." Speaking of this, Situ Jiuyue's hands seemed to tremble a bit, although she tried her best to maintain her expression. Calm, but in the end there was still a trace of strangeness.

"Miss Jiuyue," Jiang Li asked as carefully as possible, "Can you tell me what's going on?"

Situ Jiuyue turned her head and looked at her calmly. After a while, Situ Jiuyue lowered her head and continued to move her hands while saying: "People all over the world say that Ji Heng collects the world's rare flowers, but in fact it is only because of the poisonous nature of the world. Lie's flowers, most of which are bright and dazzling, have strange shapes. What Ji Heng is looking for is not strange flowers, but strange poisons, and he is looking for poisons, just to cure his father's illness."

"His father's...illness?" Jiang Li said softly: "It is rumored that General Jin Wu has disappeared many years ago."

"That's not the case. General Ji is still alive and hasn't disappeared. I don't know what happened. When I first came to the Duke's Mansion, General Ji was already in the Duke's Mansion. After so many years, Ji Heng The reason for keeping me by your side all the time, and even helping me avoid Mo Lan's pursuit, is because in the world, maybe I am the only one who can wake up General Ji."

"What happened to General Ji?"

"He was seriously injured and poisoned. There is no cure for it. I have tried my best to maintain the spread of the poison. I have been using the method of fighting poison to keep him alive. For so many years, he has not woken up. Among them There is no antidote to the poison. Three years ago, the poison had spread to the throat, and I had no choice. If this continues, he can live for at least one year. At this time, Ji Heng’s men found a poisonous weed in the desert, and I used the poisonous weed to refine the medicine. But I don't know what the outcome will be. After taking this medicine, General Ji may wake up and be completely detoxified, or maybe... it will speed up the spread of the poison and kill him immediately."

"On the one hand, life is extended for one year, and on the other hand, it is possible to wake up or die. I cannot make this decision for General Ji. The old general handed over the power of choice to Ji Heng, and Ji Heng decided to let his father take the medicine."

When Jiang Li heard this, she couldn't help but tighten her heart. She already knew what the ending would be, as Situ Jiuyue had said just now, but she still couldn't help but feel hurt for Ji Heng at this moment.

"Every one of us hopes that a miracle will happen. Ji Heng never believed in fate. Before giving General Ji medicine, he also went to pay homage to his mother. But unfortunately, as Ji Heng himself said, even if it is a play on stage The team, the comedy they sang was too fake, no miracle happened, I failed, and General Ji died."

The snow swirled down one by one and landed on Situ Jiuyue. She didn't seem to notice it, neither brushed off the snowflakes nor opened an umbrella. Letting the cold fall on her body, Jiang Li even felt that Situ Jiuyue might be shivering.

"It's not your fault," Jiang Li said softly, "It's not Ji Heng's fault either."

"Of course I know." After a while, Situ Jiuyue opened her mouth. She said, "But after General Ji died, I still left Yanjing and didn't come back until last year."

Last year, that was when Ji Heng asked Situ Jiuyue to treat Xue Huaiyuan's illness.

"I don't like to be in debt to anyone, but after that incident, I still feel indebted to Ji Heng. If Ji Heng didn't ask me to treat Xue Huaiyuan's illness, I would never be able to return to Yanjing City in my life. So once there is something to make up for I will try my best to make up for the opportunity. So when you asked me why I treated Xue Huaiyuan and Xue Zhao, I easily agreed, but it was because my poison killed his father three years ago."

Jiang Li couldn't help but said again: "It's not your fault, Miss Jiuyue, you have tried your best."

"But the ending is the same. If I am like this, you can imagine Ji Heng's mood." Situ Jiuyue said, "I have never seen a person who is so focused on doing one thing in his life. Since I met Ji Heng From the very beginning, he built such a flower garden to detoxify General Ji. Unfortunately, for so many years, he could only watch the poison spread little by little every year, helpless. In the end, he watched General Ji die. Because he made the wrong decision."

Jiang Li was silent, even if she could imagine, she could guess how desperate Ji Heng felt at that moment.

Situ Jiuyue finished picking the last flower, stood up, and said, "This is the answer. Actually, I thought that after his father died, he would tear down this flower garden, but I didn't expect that this flower garden still remained. Maybe it's to deceive people, maybe it's to be prepared."

Jiang Li said: "Then, where is General Ji buried?"

"You can't go to war, for fear that people will find out the clues. It was also his father's wish before he died. His body was burned to ashes and placed in his mother's tomb."

Jiang Li recognized the key point in Situ Jiuyue's words, and said, "For fear of people finding out? Was General Ji's poisoning deliberately done by someone? This person is hiding in the dark and is still in Beijing?"

Situ Jiuyue looked at Jiang Li: "That's right. Since you can guess it, I don't need to say it, but I don't know more about it. Ji Heng doesn't trust someone completely, but maybe You are an exception, but in order to protect you, he will not tell him a lot, so the most terrible and ugly truth may only be known to him."

Now that Jiang Li has arrived, she suddenly understands why Ji Heng has such a character. It is probably true to say that he is moody and murderous, but after experiencing such a thing, there may be more terrible facts. Ji Heng learned to face the darkness alone and walk out of the darkness when he was young If a person wants to protect what he wants to protect, the first thing he must learn is to survive in the dark. It is impossible for him to become an upright and upright person like Azhao and Xue Huaiyuan. In Jiheng's eyes Here, even naive and ridiculous.

Jiang Li couldn't tell what it was like, she just felt like a stone was pressed in her heart, and she couldn't breathe heavily. This flower garden is full of layers of bright and romantic plants, and each plant is Ji Heng's expectation since he was young. Unfortunately, the flowers are still flourishing, but the expectation has failed.

She also thought of that day when Ji Heng came to the Duke's mansion late at night and planted trees in the yard, he planted very slowly, looking at the flowers in the garden, but his eyes were very lonely.

She suddenly couldn't bear to think about it anymore.

Situ Jiuyue walked into the alchemy room with a bamboo basket full of flowers. But she didn't immediately refine the medicine, but after putting the bamboo basket away, she walked to the edge of the yard, staring at the snow in a trance. She probably thought about what happened to General Ji back then, no matter how indifferent her tone was and how calm her face was, her heart was not without ups and downs.

The two girls are standing in the yard, the world is vast and white, each has their own thoughts, but they feel that the world is impermanent, the world is changing, and it is indescribably helpless and bitter.

After a long time, it was so long that the snow stopped, so long that Xiao Hong woke up in the cage, opened her black bean-like eyes, flew to the eaves, and looked at Jiang and Li with her head tilted.

Jiang Li said: "Miss Jiuyue, I want to go to Ye Mansion to see my uncle. Do you want to go and see Ah Zhao's wounds? Last time I promised Ah Zhao to make poison for the whip. Go to Ah Zhao and send it."

Her heart was surprisingly depressed, and she desperately wanted to use other things to ease the suffocation in her heart, otherwise she would be overwhelmed by this sad emotion, and she couldn't think of anything else in her mind for a while. She wanted to see Ah Zhao, see her father, see Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie, and let her heart rest temporarily.

She thought the same was true for Situ Jiuyue. If Jiang Li was gone, Situ Jiuyue would definitely not go to the Ye Mansion by himself.

Situ Jiuyue was stunned for a moment, and looked at Jiang Li suspiciously. When she saw Xue Zhao last time, she did say that she could refine poison for Xue Zhao's whip, but Jiang Li remembered it.

"Miss Jiuyue, let's go together." Jiang Li said.

Situ Jiuyue did not refuse, she said, "Okay."

The two of them left the Duke's mansion, got into the carriage, and walked very quickly, as if they were trying to escape some kind of emotion. Tong'er and Bai Xue looked at each other, no one knew what happened, but felt that the atmosphere between Situ Jiuyue and Jiang Li was a little strange and surprisingly quiet.

The carriage was far away and stopped at the gate of Ye Mansion. Jiang Li and Situ Jiuyue jumped out of the carriage together, probably because it was too cold and the servants at the door of Ye's mansion were not there. Tong'er stepped forward and knocked on the door with the doorknob of the copper lion of Ye Mansion.

For a long time no one answered.

Jiang Li felt a little strange, could it be that Ye Mingyu wasn't here? But even if Ye Mingyu is not there, the servants of Ye's mansion should always stay in the mansion, it can't be a huge mansion without a single person. Jiang Li wondered if Ye Mingyu was practicing swords in the mansion, but she didn't hear it, so she took a few steps forward, and just about to knock on the door again, her eyes froze suddenly.

From the gate of Ye Mansion, a trace of red escaped from the gap between the doors. It is a human illusion.

Jiang Li's gaze froze, Situ Jiuyue also sensed something was wrong, stepped forward to look, frowned, and pushed the door open without saying a word.

"Bang Dang".

As soon as he pushed it away, a gust of wind mixed with a strong smell of blood rushed towards his face. Not far from the door, the boy who saw Jiang Li always greeted him with a smile was lying in a pool of blood, with one hand stretched out towards the door, as if he wanted to open the door, and then his life was frozen here forever up.

Tong'er screamed, and Jiang Li was flustered. She lifted her skirt and ran inside. Along the way, there were all the servants and guards of the Ye family. These people were all killed with a knife, and the wounds pierced from the front of the chest to the back, which was extremely miserable. Jiang Li couldn't help but said: "Uncle! Mr. Xue! Ah Zhao! Cousin Ye! Begonia!"

Situ Jiuyue followed closely behind, but she didn't hear anyone's answer. Jiang Li was so shocked that tears were about to fall, and she almost fainted. Ye Mingyu and Ye Shijie treated her like a family member, needless to say, Xue Zhao and Xue Huaiyuan, their family had just been reunited, did they encounter this bad luck again, could it be that God was playing tricks on them?

Jiang Li was about to go crazy. She searched around but couldn't find the dead body of her relatives. She didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. Then, she heard Situ Jiuyue yelling: "Xue Zhao!"

Jiang Li's heart skipped a beat, and she ran over without thinking, and saw Situ Jiuyue standing blankly in the yard, the yard was in a mess, the bodies of several guards fell on the ground, and Xue Zhao's wheelchair was overturned on the ground , a whip was broken in half and buried in the snow.

Situ Jiuyue picked up the whip, his hands trembling.

The entire Ye Mansion was searched inside and out, but there was no sign of them. The rest of the people did not survive, like a hell.

"Girl, what should we do? Let's report to the police first, it's not safe here, what if those villains haven't left and hurt the girl?" Bai Xue was a little scared.

Jiang Li took the whip from Situ Jiuyue, but she didn't see Xue Zhao's corpse. Her heart gradually calmed down, and she was able to think about something clearly. She shook her head, "Those villains are not here."

Situ Jiuyue and the two servant girls looked at him.

"All the servants of the Ye family are dead, and my uncle and cousin are missing. If it is the enemy's fault, why bring Mr. Xue and Xue Zhao, and Haitang is also a servant. These people are clearly related to me. The people behind are probably not coming for them, but for me."

Situ Jiuyue asked, "What does this mean?"

"They didn't kill Uncle Mr. Xue and the others because there are no bodies of them here. If they were dead, they could be placed here. It can be seen that the purpose is not to kill people, but to take them away and hide them to threaten me."

"Threatening the girl?" Tong'er asked: "What are you threatening the girl? Do you want the girl to do something for them?"

Jiang Li said: "Miss Jiuyue, come here first."

Situ Jiuyue and Jiang Li walked aside, frowned and looked at Jiang Li: "What did you think of?"

"If someone wants to deal with the Jiang family, it doesn't have to start with me. I don't have much effect on the Jiang family. If you want to use me to threaten my father, my father will never compromise. So I think it may not be the Jiang family. problem, but..."

"You mean Ji Heng?" Situ Jiuyue said immediately.

Jiang Li nodded, "Since you said that Ji Heng is going to do something very important, it may be the same for the other party. I think their purpose is to threaten me with the lives of the people in Yefu, and I will do it again." Threatening Ji Heng."

"What...what are you going to do?" Situ Jiuyue asked hesitantly.

Jiang Li said: "I think they will send a letter to me soon to tell me what to do, let's play by ear."