A pretty girl who was no longer in her prime woke up from her sleep, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and stretched herself.
In the spacious room, every appliance is very particular.
It looks like a wealthy family.
The girl walked barefoot on the ground and opened the window.
The hazy mist from the mountains slowly drifted into the house.
The girl took a deep breath of the morning mountain air, looked at the somewhat gray sky with her big clear eyes, and then looked at the rolling mountains in the distance. She couldn't help but reach out her hand, trying to grab something.
It's approaching August, but it's not that hot in the mountains. On the contrary, it's a little cool in the morning.
The girl was lying by the window, looking at the clouds flowing in the distance, feeling the wind blowing in front of her, and a longing smile gently appeared at the corner of her mouth.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
Then a voice came, "Goddess..."
The girl's body couldn't help but tremble, and endless panic suddenly filled her clear eyes.
Can she... finally leave here?
The knock on the door rang again, "Goddess..."
There was some urging in the voice.
The girl's body trembled slightly, with fear and a hint of relief in her eyebrows.
"knew."
The girl walked to the closet and opened a hidden compartment.
"Click, click..."
The mechanism in the secret compartment slowly opened, gradually revealing the gorgeous red dress inside.
The girl slowly stretched out her hand and stroked the red dress, with a hint of surprise in her eyes.
She took off her clothes.
Then one by one, I put on this red dress that I had been preparing for several years.
After a while, the sound of the machine being turned on was heard at the door of the house.
The girl is wearing a phoenix crown and a red dress, and she looks like a person walking out of the painting.
She slowly walked out of the house.
Outside the door, two maids immediately knelt down and saluted.
The girl looked to one side, and there... there were several girls dressed the same as her, looking at her as well...
"The day has finally come..."
The girl turned around and walked towards the corridor where the light came in.
What is outside of light?
She has never seen it before.
There are eight other girls like her.
A group of nine people, with the help of the maid, finally walked out of the corridor.
In front of you is a long street, lined with low and simple houses on both sides. Some houses are even covered with thatch, and a slightly stronger wind can blow away the thatch.
Outside these houses, people in ragged clothes were kneeling one after another.
The girl looked back at the house where she had been trapped for thirteen years.
From the outside, it looks like a stone prison.
Looking at these people who are kneeling, are their parents who have never met them one of them?
I have been waiting for my fate for thirteen years.
I have been waiting for freedom for thirteen years.
Now it’s finally here…
The stone-paved streets look like a ladder leading to the altar.
The girl could even see the altar covered with red silk in the distance.
This road was the only one she could take after leaving the house.
The girl took a deep breath and slowly took the first step.
…
The cloud boat landed at the Yamen of Wushan County.
I just left the backyard with Fan Zhenquan.
The people from the Southern Patrol Division who were ordered to come are already guarding here.
Everyone else in the yamen stood with their heads down and their hands folded in fear.
"Sir." Feng Buyi stepped forward and saluted.
"Have all the spies been sent out?" Li Changan nodded and walked forward.
"It's been spread out."
"Try your best to collect all the information in the three counties of Wushan County." After Li Changan finished speaking, he turned his attention to the other people in the Southern Patrol Town Fusi.
"There is no need to explain the special features of Wushan County. You should seize the time to survey the terrain of the three counties."
"Yes." Everyone in the Southern Patrol Division quickly accepted the order.
At this moment, Jun Cheng trotted over and saluted with clasped fists, "Sir, sir... it's not good!"
"Xilin, Qutang, and Wuling counties are about to start offering sacrifices again!"
"And this time, we are offering sacrifices separately, saying that we will lead the Dragon God to his own territory."
The atmosphere in the whole place suddenly solidified.
Everyone who had not yet left looked at Li Changan.
The murderous look in Li Changan's eyes became fierce.
"Feng Buyi, Song Siren, and Zeng Shicai, you three each lead a group of troops. Stop the sacrifice immediately and save the people."
Fan Zhenquan on the side turned pale with fright, "Sir, sir... this matter needs to be discussed in the long run."
"Interfering with their sacrifices without authorization will trigger a backlash of luck if any problems occur."
"The fortunes of the three southern provinces will then collapse."
"If we think about it in the long term, everyone will be dead." Li Changan waved his hand, "I will stop the sacrifice on the grounds of surveying for floods."
"Whether there is a Dragon God or not, this sacrifice must stop!"
Li Changan's eyes were full of murderous intent, "Li is not used to those who pretend to be gods and ghosts."
He glanced at the faces of all the officials of the Zhenfu Department and said, "As long as the magistrates of the three counties refuse to cooperate with our Zhenfu Department operations."
"Immediately withdraw all aid to the three counties of Wushan County."
"yes."
…
Li Changan left the Yamen with everyone from Nanxun Town Fusi.
All the officials and servants in the Yamen couldn't help but shrink their necks.
"This... this Senator, is so tough?"
Jun Cheng looked at Fan Zhenquan and said, "Sir, will anything happen if you do this?"
"Nowadays, the relationship between the two parties is sensitive and suspicious. If you are not careful, it may trigger a backlash of luck."
"Should we stop it a little bit?"
Fan Zhenquan glanced at Jun Cheng, "You dare to stop me?"
"The Senator may not dare to touch the magistrates of the three counties for the time being, but when dealing with officials like us in the county government, he doesn't even need to report it."
"Don't forget how many officials he killed in the three southern mansions? How many homes he raided?"
Jun Cheng tightened his throat, smiled and stopped talking.
Fan Zhenquan shook his head helplessly.
This damn Wushan County will take another two years to leave.
Except for him, everyone here was arranged by the following three counties.
A group of people work for the imperial court on the surface, but in reality they are alienated.
Just talking to them made Fan Zhenquan feel sick.
The county magistrate deliberately sent back the news of the sacrifice.
It's just that I want to test the depth of Li Changan.
If even the chief officials are weak and can be bullied, and their hands are tied, then the Southern Patrol Governor in Wushan County will be nothing more than help material.
But I am afraid that killing this county magistrate may not be expected.
Li Changan was so tough that he directly wanted to stop the three parties from offering sacrifices.
I don't even care at all, I'm walking on thin ice now.
…
The sacrifices in the three counties are proceeding in an orderly manner.
Every county used the highest standard of sacrificial rituals.
"Get in position."
After the sacrificial utensils are arranged, the officials are presented, the deacons perform four salutes, wash themselves, and take their places.
The deacon burns incense, and the hair is bleeding.
Burning incense is to welcome the gods to the yang, and burying the hair and blood is using yin objects to welcome the gods to the yin.
"The ancients believed that after death, the soul belongs to Yin and returns to the earth, while the soul belongs to Yang and is everywhere, so sacrifices can communicate with both Yin and Yang."
Zhao Yunbo, the county magistrate and the contemporary head of the Zhao family, walked up to the altar step by step.
"Play music...welcome the Dragon God..."
The official's voice echoed in all directions.
As the words fell, the unique sound of bells and drums slowly came out.
Joy belongs to Yang, and it also welcomes the gods in Yang.
The music was playing for half an hour, and the music came into its own.
Zhao Yunbo stood on the altar and bowed four times to welcome the Dragon God.
"Laying silk, first offering."
Nine pairs of boys and girls walked onto the altar under the leadership of Yin Zan.
The sound of bells and drums continues.
Zhao Yunbo went to the throne of God, knelt down, offered silk and honors, prostrated himself, and lay flat.
The nine boys and girls also followed this step and completed it meticulously.
The girl looked at the welcoming platform not far away in front of her, with mixed thoughts in her heart.
In just two more steps, he would be on his way up.
The thought of running away vaguely arose in her mind, but was quickly extinguished.
Can't escape.
Besides accepting her fate, does she have any other choice?
At least her parents can get a lot of money from this and still live well.
"Yaxian."
Nine pairs of boys and girls took a step forward, paid their respects, bowed down, and stretched themselves flat.
"Final dedication."
As soon as these two words came out, the atmosphere in the whole place became stagnant.
The bodies of the nine pairs of boys and girls also shook violently.
No matter how you know your destiny, you will still be afraid when facing death.
Under the guidance of Yin Zan, the girl was the first to raise her feet.
If you die, you will be free...
"Crack."
A crystal teardrop fell from the girl's big clear eyes.
Finally, we stepped onto the altar to welcome the gods.
The Dragon God Lock was slowly opened and then put on the girl's pink and white long neck.
Yin Zan left quickly.
The girl took one last look at the countless kneeling people, and then slowly closed her eyes.
Under the Yingshen platform, there is a cliff thousands of feet tall.
The Dragon God Lock tightened little by little and then rose, slowly lifting the girl up.
The girl's breathing began to become rapid and difficult.
Death is approaching step by step.
Is this how it will be in this life?
Before the girl became unconscious, a thought flashed through her mind.
She hasn’t picked mountain flowers with her own hands, hasn’t run on mountain roads, and hasn’t done many things...
The wind is so strong...
But she couldn't hear it anymore.
the next moment,
The girl felt as if she was floating in the air, and the uncomfortable suffocation disappeared.
It's like lying in the clouds.
Is this what it feels like after death?
The girl slowly opened her eyes and saw a pair of black and white eyes.