The first day of April in the thirteenth year of Sui Ning's reign
In Luofu, Yuzhou, Feng Zinan brought Qin Shu to the main hall, where Gao Zhen was sitting on a chair, seeming to be concentrating with his eyes closed.
The wind saluted from the south and called, "Second Young Master."
Gao Zhen slowly opened his eyes, and his brown eyes were less immature and more determined.
Qin Shu also saluted respectfully.
"Second Young Master, I'm back."
"Yes." Gao Zhen nodded and responded lightly.
Qin Shu said: "This time, I came back from Ningzhou and there was no news about the master."
The expression on Gao Zhen's face did not change at all, but his hand that was originally resting on the chair was bent unconsciously.
Feng Zinan said: "Second Young Master, news from Jinling."
"explain."
"Concubine Shu's son died in infancy."
Gao Zhen walked out of the main hall, looked in the direction of Jinling, and murmured to himself, "Today is the first day of April again, two years ago... A Luo..."
Feng Zinan continued: "There is still no news from Luo Chen."
Qin Shu leaned against the stone pillar and looked in the direction of Jinling, "If I had known that it would end like this, no matter what, I would never have left that day."
He paused for a while, "As a result, the master is not there, and even Luo Chen is missing..."
Gao Zhen didn't respond at all. He looked at the dark clouds and said, "It's going to rain. That's it for today. You can go first."
"......yes."
Although spring has begun in Yuzhou in early April, it is still extremely cold when it rains.
Gao Zhen sat on the porch, looking at the drizzle in front of him, drinking wine from the jug.
He remembered that in his last conversation with Luo Qingzhi, he didn't get an answer.
"Arlo, is it because of love or guilt?"
The only answer he received was the patter of rain, and no one gave him this answer.
He closed his eyes, hoping that he could fall asleep. At least in his dreams, he could still see Luo Qingzhi from time to time.
This time, it was different from usual. Not only could he see Luo Qingzhi, but he could also feel Luo Qingzhi's touch as she wiped the raindrops on his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Erlang, it's cold here, go back to the room."
Gao Zhen held Luo Qingzhi's hand and asked: "Aluo, where have you been? Why don't you come back?"
Luo Qingzhi just smiled without any answer.
Gao Zhen took Luo Qingzhi's hand and pulled her to his side with a little force. Luo Qingzhi smiled and said, "What do you want to do?"
"I really miss you, Aluo." Gao Zhen closed his eyes and kissed her lips devoutly.
There was no lust in this kiss, only full of longing and care.
Gao Zhen opened his eyes, and there was no shadow in front of him. Apart from the sound of rain and tears in the corners of his eyes, there was nothing else.
He grinned and touched the white jade on his waist, imagining that Luo Qingzhi would touch it like this in the past, and he felt as if Luo Qingzhi had always been by his side.
The sound of rain gradually became quieter, and the aroma of earth dispersed. Gao Zhen took a deep breath, stood up slowly, and walked to the study.
There was a sound of shortness of breath.
"Second Young Master."
Hearing the shouting, Gao Zhen turned around slowly.
Qin Shu was a little anxious, breathed steadily and said, "He has appeared, Master, he has appeared!"
Gao Zhen was stunned for a moment and said, "Who? Who did you say found it?"
"Master, it's the master, the second young master."
Gao Zhen's breathing paused slightly.
"Second Young Master..."
"Let's go," Gao Zhen said anxiously: "Let's go, take me there quickly."
On the West Street of Yuzhou City, a woman who looked exactly like Luo Qingzhi huddled in a corner, staring at the man in black in front of her and trembling.
Gao Zhen rushed over on horseback, pushed aside the crowd, and stared at "Luo Qingzhi" who was huddled in the corner.
"Ah, Arlo?"
Gao Zhen was a little excited and quickly stepped forward to hold her arm.
"Luo Qingzhi" yelled and backed away, "Go away, go away."
Gao Zhen let go of her hand and sighed deeply, "No, it's not her."
Qin Shu shouted, "Why not? They look exactly the same."
Gao Zhen said: "She is not."
"Luo Qingzhi" looked frightened, staring at the person in front of her, motionless.
Qin Shu didn't want to give up, so he knelt down and saluted, "Master, I am Qin Shu."
"Luo Qingzhi" shook her head repeatedly, "Go away, go away."
Gao Zhen got on his horse and said to Qin Shu, "Send her back."
Qin Shu looked at Gao Zhen and said, "Second Young Master, I..."
"Needless to say." Gao Zhen interrupted, "I'm used to it."
After Gao Zhen finished speaking, he walked away. The night was finally long.
He walked to the city wall and looked at Yuzhou City at night. Yuzhou was not prosperous, and there were no thousands of lights like Jinling City.
"Arlo..."
"You know me?"
The sudden sound made Gao Zhen alert.
Gao Zhen looked at the corner in the darkness and yelled, "Come out!"
The man came out of the shadows and couldn't help but ask: "It was obviously you who called my name, why am I still angry?"
Gao Zhen looked at the man dressed in coarse linen clothes. He was clearly plain, but he had an indescribable temperament.
"My name is A Luo, you are calling me."
Gao Zhen shook his head, "I didn't call you."
Ah Luo walked forward and looked Gao Zhen up and down, "You are so good-looking."
"Presumptuous!" Gao Zhen scolded.
A Luo didn't take it seriously, "What? Isn't it okay to praise you?"
"I don't see any blood today, so you can leave." Gao Zhen said.
A Luo smiled and said, "You want to kill me?"
Gao Zhen turned away and no longer wanted to pay attention to him.
A Luo picked up the dead branches on the ground, peeled off the leaves, and pointed at Gao Zhen, "It just so happens that the master has not found anyone to practice what he taught today. Although you are very good-looking, I think you are unlucky."
Gao Zhen snorted coldly, "Do you know who I am?"
"Then who are you?" Aluo asked with a smile.
Gao Zhen glared, but in the end he was ready to turn around and leave.
Ah Luo picked up the cane and began to attack Gao Zhen.
Gao Zhen dodged quickly, and A Luo tried several times but failed to get close.
"Interesting." A Luo smiled, "I have been in Yuzhou for so long, and finally met someone with pretty good martial arts."
Gao Zhen was also a little surprised by A Luo's kung fu. The opponent just used rattan to attack, but he was almost unable to withstand it.
"You look like you are over eighteen," Gao Zhen said.
"Of course." Arlo said, "I'm already in my mid-twenties."
Gao Zhen was a little distracted, but only for a moment, "Go join the army."
"What?" A Luo smiled, "Designed to the army? To surrender to the Northern Army?"
Gao Zhen was puzzled, "In Yuzhou, it is natural to surrender to the Northern Army."
Ah Luo sighed slightly, "It's a pity that I can't disobey the master's orders. I can't surrender to the Northern Army."
Gao Zhen was about to ask why, when a flute sound came.
Ah Luo said: "I'm leaving, see you later."
After he finished speaking, he turned over and jumped off the city wall without giving Gao Zhen any chance to react.
Gao Zhen looked down and couldn't help but sigh, "Qinggong is really good."
In the night, Aluo walked on the eaves and came to the dense forest. He saw a man in black, bowed and saluted, "Master."
The man in black turned around and revealed his face. Under the moonlight, his face was pale.
"Aluo, why are you so late tonight?"
Ah Luo explained, "When I met an interesting person on the city wall, I just passed a few tricks."
"Oh," the man in black asked, "Who is he?"
Ah Luo said, "Oh," "I just wanted to announce my family status, but I didn't listen."
The man in black smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. Remember, you should never appear in front of Pingbei Army and Gao Zhen in Yuzhou."
"I know." Aluo nodded, "Master, you have said it many times."
The man in black sighed, "Okay, no more rambling. Once we find Wang Buliu, we will return to Northern Xinjiang."
"Yeah." Aluo nodded.
"Go and rest." The man in black said.
Aluo saluted and left.
Watching A Luo leave, the man in black put away his smile, turned around and said, "Come out."
A secret guard appeared and knelt down to salute.
"Mr. Xia Ji, your Majesty has an order."
Xia Ji knelt down on one knee and said, "Xia Ji listens to the order."
"Get the Yuzhou defense map."
Xia Ji hesitated, but took the letter with both hands.
"yes."
Ah Luo returned to the thatched hut in the suburbs, lying on a simple bed, thinking about Gao Zhen's appearance and actually laughed out loud.
The door was opened, but Aluo didn't look panicked.
"Luo Chen, you came back quite late today." A Luo said.
"Uh, uh, uh." Luo Chen couldn't make a sound and gestured with his hands.
A Luo got up from the bed, looked at the dusty Luo Chen, and asked, "Did your mission not go well today?"
Luo Chen shook his head.
"Hey." Ah Luo sighed, "Sometimes, I really don't know what you are talking about. In other words, you can't speak, but you can always write. Tell me, who caused you to do this? I will
I met you and I will help you get revenge."
Luo Chen shook his head again.
A Luo lay back on the bed, and Luo Chen took out the cakes from his arms and put them on the table.
"This is obviously my first time here in Yuzhou, but it feels so familiar."
Luo Chen's hands trembled, but he opened the kraft paper wrapping the pastry. It was hibiscus cake. He walked to A Luo, shook him, and motioned him to eat.
Ah Luo smelled the smell, opened his eyes suddenly, and was a little surprised, "Hibiscus cake, Luo Chen, you are so kind."
Luo Chen smiled and picked up the cake again.
Ah Luo picked up a piece and ate it with relish.
After filling his stomach, Aluo began to say, "Tonight, I met a person on the city wall, well, to be precise, it was a man."
Luo Chen knelt down beside the bed and listened intently to the follow-up.
"That guy, he's really good-looking, even better-looking than my second brother."
Hearing this, Luo Chen felt bad, but he couldn't speak, so he could only gesture with his hands.
A Luo seemed to understand what he meant and explained, "Name?"
Luo Chen nodded.
"I haven't asked yet. I will definitely ask him next time I see him." A Luo smiled.
Luo Chen shook his head repeatedly.
"Aren't you curious?" A Luo asked.
Luo Chen shook his head again.
Arlo sighed, "Okay, then I won't ask."
She lay back on the bed and yawned, "I'm really sleepy. I'm going to sleep first, and you should go to bed early."
Luo Chen nodded.
Ah Luo slept very well and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Luo Chen stood up and closed the door gently, just as Xia Ji came back.
"Is she asleep?" Xia Ji asked.
Luo Chen nodded.
Xia Ji handed the letter to Luo Chen.
He looked quickly and shook his head excitedly.
Xia Ji nodded, "I know that A Luo will not be allowed to go on this mission."
Luo Chen patted his chest, which meant, "Let me go."
Xia Ji hesitated, "But, they are too familiar with you, you..."