The clear sunshine of April in late spring and early summer is the warmest, softest and refreshing time in the world.
The wind blew in front of her, blowing Xia Zhaoyi's bangs briskly and delicately. She stopped on the hillside and streamside, looking up at the fragrance of Hengxiang under the sky in the distance.
There was a huge crowd of people, and it was a grand event. People were rushing out of the city first, and people were rushing to enter the city. The two groups of people were jostling each other in the conflict.
"Second Miss!" Zhan Ning, who had returned from inquiring about the news, hurried up the trail.
Xia Zhaoyi and others hurriedly turned around.
"The situation is too chaotic and there are so many different opinions that I can't tell which one is true and which one is false." Zhan Ning said after coming over.
"Don't worry, the checkpoint near the city gate may be difficult to clear for a while. Please speak slowly." Xia Zhaoyi said.
"Yes." Zhan Ning said.
Just as he finished speaking, Liang Dechang's voice suddenly came from below: "Brother, brother?"
Xia Zhaoyi frowned and rushed over immediately.
A man was sleeping under the grass and trees, unconscious. He was wearing a cloth coat and a small jacket. His skin was delicate and he was about twenty-five years old.
Xia Zhaoyi checked his pulse, gently opened his eyelids with her other hand, and looked at Fan Yu and Guan Chi: "Go get some water and food."
"Yes." The two responded.
Xia Zhaoyi looked at the man's left hand and reached out to hold it.
"He is a scholar," Xia Zhaoyi said, looking at the calluses on his fingers holding the pen, "he is left-handed."
"Maybe I learned about Hengxiang because of the theory of death," Zhan Ning said.
"Um."
Food and water were brought, and Xia Zhaoyi stood up and asked them to feed him.
She glanced at the man and said to Zhan Ning: "Let's go back and talk."
Under the guidance of Liang Dechang, Guan Chi and Fan Yu fed the food into the man's mouth.
The man opened his eyes slightly, glanced at them with a pair of chaotic eyes that had just awakened, and then weakly looked forward.
The girl's thin and slender figure was fading away, and the man frowned, feeling a strange feeling in his heart.
He opened his mouth and wanted to speak.
The lips that were only half-opened were fed water and broken dry food by two men one after another.
"Is he awake?" one person said.
"Brother, don't be afraid, we saved you and you are in luck." Another person said.
"Yes, you are lucky." Someone else said.
It wasn't until the girl disappeared from sight that the man slowly looked towards them, his weak hands unable to bow: "Thank you knights for your life-saving grace."
…
Xia Zhaoyi and Zhan Ning returned to the bank of Banya Creek.
After listening to all the versions told by Zhan Ning, Xia Zhaoyi said: "At least one thing can be confirmed. This newly appointed Governor Zhao is definitely not a good person."
Also, something happened to Ning'an Tower and Qu Mansion.
"Hengxiang should have other ways to enter the city," Zhan Ning said, "Second Miss, I'll go find out more."
Xia Zhaoyi glanced at him, thought for a while, and said: "If so much happened to Hengxiang, Shen Lie will definitely arrange a lot of people to pick us up outside the city," Xia Zhaoyi looked at him with bright and clear eyes.
Nearby mountains, "Maybe there is one here."
Zhan Ning was slightly happy: "It will definitely not be on the high mountains. It should be at the entrance and exit of major mountain passes."
"There are many people on these mountains," Xia Zhaoyi said. "When you go looking for them, be sure not to talk to them or ask too many questions."
Zhan Ning didn't ask why, he nodded and said: "Yes."
…
After the rescued man recovered, he rested under a tree by the roadside. Liang Dechang stayed to take care of him, asking him from time to time if he wanted to eat more and drink some water.
The man shook his head and kept saying "thank you".
The sound of footsteps approaching quickly.
Liang Dechang looked up and saw that Guan Chi came over with a bowl of water in his hand and said: "The second lady said that he should give him a bowl of salt water, and she also gave me a few pieces of candy and asked me to feed him."
"Okay, I'll come." Liang Dechang stood up to pick him up.
Guan Chi did not leave immediately. He squatted down and looked at the man. Seeing that his eyes were bright and strong, he asked casually: "Brother, where did you come from?"
"I am from Ningzhou. My surname is Meng and my first name is Sixiang." The man raised his hand and said.
"Our lady said you are left-handed," Guan Chi looked at his left hand curiously, "Are you really left-handed?"
The man pursed his pale and bloodless lips and chuckled, "Yeah."
"Don't ask so many questions. I'll feed him water first, and you can go look for him together." Liang Dechang dismissed.
"Sure," Guan Chi stood up, "Then you take good care of him."
The man looked at Liang Dechang and said sincerely: "Although I cannot say thank you for the great kindness, I still want to express my gratitude again. If it weren't for you, my little life might be buried here today."
"It's easy to say," Liang Dechang said proudly, "This shows that we are destined."
The man smiled, lowered his head to take the salt water, and drank it slowly.
The water is indeed salty and a little hard to drink.
In the current troubled times, Hengxiang is inland, and the price of salt here is not low. Putting so much salt in his bowl of water is a generous gesture.
Think about the physique, speech, and temperament of this group of people, as well as the armor on their bodies and the military boots on their feet.
Although it is old, it is wear-resistant and stain-resistant, with solid materials and fine workmanship.
This group of people is obviously not ordinary people.
The man drank slowly, his eyes gradually becoming thoughtful.
Hearing the sound of Liang Dechang peeling off candy wrappers, the man raised his head and said hurriedly: "Oh, no need, I can do it myself."
Seeing that his hands had regained some strength, Liang Dechang handed it to him.
The sugar is flavored with osmanthus and mint, which is sweet in the mouth. The mint carries a refreshing fragrance and goes straight to the nose and brain, which is quite refreshing.
The man showed gratitude again: "I don't know how to thank you... By the way, I have something."
He put down the bowl in his hand and took out a small jade stone from his arms.
The jade is exquisite and interesting, and is tied with a long and light-colored Susu silk hoop. There are broken flowers embossed on the surface of the jade. It is micro-carved and the craftsmanship is excellent. The pattern and fine leaves are clearly visible.
"General, this is for you."
"Farewell," Liang Dechang refused to accept it. "This looks valuable, or the most valuable thing you have. We can't accept it!"
"It's not valuable," the man said solemnly, "General, just accept it."
"I'm not a general," Liang Dechang said sheepishly, "I'm just a soldier."
"If the general doesn't accept it, then...please give it to the beautiful and kind-hearted second lady." The man said again.
"this……"
The man tried his best to put the small jade into Liang Dechang's hand: "This jade is really not expensive, it is just an ordinary piece of Xiuyan jade."
"Xiuyan jade?" Liang Dechang lowered his head and looked at it. He knew that Xiuyan jade was indeed not expensive.
"In that case, I will hand it over to the second lady." Liang Dechang could only say.
"Thank you, General."
Seeing that Liang Dechang temporarily accepted the jade, the man's heart became slightly complicated. He felt relieved, but also sighed with sadness.
This jade has been with him for many, many years.
Many, many, many years...
The sweet osmanthus mint candy in his mouth was still full of sweetness. The man suddenly wanted to cry. He raised his hand and gently grabbed Liang Dechang's forearm: "General, I just said that my name is Meng Sixiang. What about you?"
"Me," Liang Dechang grinned broadly, "just call me Brother Liang."
"Brother Liang?"
Liang Dechang laughed and avoided the topic.
There are strict orders in the army, so it is inconvenient for him to tell others his real name.
