Chapter 18 A Pillow of Clouds and Dreams 1

　　On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xiaoxiao was dug up from the quilt, endured a headache, went to the Bihua Hall to eat the first meal of the New Year's traditional dumpling feast, before being released back to the garden. 　　Seeing that there are still a few lanterns in the garden that have not yet been removed, recalling the joy of last night, he couldn't stop laughing, but he no longer remembers what he had done. 　　After the start of the New Year, people will go from house to house in groups to pay New Year's greetings. The New Year's greetings were for the younger generation to kowtow to their elders, while the New Year's greetings were for the peers to congratulate each other. 　　As the king of a county, the king had many officials, merchants, and scholars come to pay New Year's greetings from morning to night, one after another. Outside the royal residence, there were really fresh clothes and flying palanquins, and even the quiet alleys and quiet neighborhoods in the vicinity were moved into a market. 　　Most of these people are received by the daughter of the world, occasionally there are juniors to come, the daughter of the world welcome to sit in the side hall, then let Xiaoxiao to accompany. 　　Xiaoxiao couldn't bear to be disturbed, and after sitting with her twice, she retreated to her room and pretended to be sick. 　　As such, she had to wait until the "fifth day of the month". This "broken five" is the fifth day of the first month. Said the poor God was ordered to "see the broken that is returned", people to avoid the poor God will call this day for "broken five", are organizing banquets, it as a "small year" view. 　　On this day, however, there is a guest of honor, need to send out the King of the King to welcome. 　　The unexpected guests were Zhao E, the king of Southwest China, and his daughter Zhao Jiang. 　　The king was informed that the two came, then ordered Junxing to retreat, in addition to the transfer of competent steward waiting, and made the smile confined to the garden, and the quiet shadow and other people, not to run around. 　　Although this southwest king has no real power, but is a real royal relatives. Its ancestors are fruit sellers, is also clever, will hit the idea to the emperor, took over the palace of the anti-season fruit supply. 　　Zhao family ancestral set of fruit preservation methods, can be stored in season fruit, freshness up to more than two months and not bad. So at that time to the palace supply a large number of counter-seasonal fresh fruit, what milk citrus, Fukangan, chestnuts, musk cane, incense root, gold and silver peaches, purple plums, crystal plums, purple plums, silver gourd, Fukumo plums, Taiwan citrus, Dongting tangerine, plaque tangerine, Qu tangerine, tangerine, olives, square top persimmons, fire pearl persimmons, loquats, golden apricots ...... are some of the capital rare and fresh things, alone the palace supply of fresh fruit, the family has a set of ancestral fruit preservation methods, can be stored in season fruit up to more than two months without going bad. The things, alone the palace needs a business, has earned unusual businessmen dozens of times the profit. 　　At that time, the Queen was Emperor Renzong, favorite fruit, see these rare since the joy, rewarded this Zhao's ancestors do not know how many times. 　　After three years of drought in the capital, the master of the clouds, the need for the emperor to yang year yang month yang day yang time of pure yang man as a king, to the emperor of the pure yin of the body, in order to solve the long drought in the capital. And the trigrams show that the east, this person is living in the east of the capital. 　　Renzong puts out a list to recruit people, Zhao has a son, years and hairpin, good character and appearance, rare is just pure yang people. So Renzong took him to the palace. 　　After the real rain from heaven, quenched the capital's thirst. Renzong like this Zhao's son of the gentle nature, and the idea that he solved the drought in the capital, will be appointed as the side of the king, given the name of "Yongjun", more favor. After this Zhao's son gave birth to a daughter and a son, extended the royal bloodline, Renzong will give Zhao's southwest of a land, named Southwest County King. 　　At that time, the current Queen is Jun Zong, also adopted the Zhao family man as a side king. This person's name is Zhao Xuan, is the southwest king Zhao E's brother, looks like hibiscus, body as soft as a willow, by the Jun Zong favor, given the title "Ning Jun". 　　After decades of silence, Zhao's relatives ushered in a new round of dignitaries. 　　Lanling Wang has never liked or hated this king of the southwest, but since Xiaoxiao taught the world's female servants that after the incident, there is much shame in the scheme of his rule. But this southwest king in the palace, and usually camping and pat on the horse quite a means of operation, there is no lack of party in the dynasty, also do not want to offend. At that moment, they will set up a banquet with the world's female grand hospitality. 　　When the wine was in full swing, King E said that the purpose of this visit was to rely on the strength of Simone Lanling to recommend his daughter Zhao Jiang to serve in the Ministry of War. 　　Simone Lanling thought for a while and said, "The post of Commander of the Military Department is now vacant. 　　Zhao E had not yet spoken, but Zhao Jiang had already frowned and said, "Commanding officer? I'm from the Zhao family, so even if I'm not a langzhong, I should at least be an outranking officer. This Job Square Division is too boring, I wonder if there are any vacancies in the Department of Driving or the Department of Treasury?" 　　Simone Lanling was slightly displeased and only said, "Simone is only an official of the third rank, it is not within Simone's ability to recommend a high rank, and an official of the fifth rank or higher needs to be selected through the martial arts exams to be able to enter the post." 　　Zhao E laughed and said, "Jiang'er is really anxious and has made things difficult for her." 　　Simone Lanling busily said, "Simone is unable to do what she can, I am deeply sorry." 　　Zhao E laughed, "But my Jiang'er has real talent and is not the kind of person who would make the sponsor lose face." 　　Lan Ling Simone said, "Look at Jiang's strength and power, she should be a good general." 　　Zhao E laughed and said, "I am not boasting, but if it were not for the fact that my daughter did not make it to the top of the list in the martial arts exams, although my Jiang'er is not as good as my daughter, she would have no problem in getting a scholar's medal." 　　Simone Lanling didn't believe her, and only made a perfunctory remark. 　　Seeing that she didn't believe her, Zhao E said that she wanted Zhao Jiang to spar with her. Simone Lanling was not willing to do so, and said that she was a few years older than Zhao Jiang, so she could not bully her younger sister, and that it would be better for her to have a sister of the same age to spar with her. 　　Hearing this from the side, Mr. Lanling quickly coughed and tried to interrupt. 　　Zhao E, however, already said with joy: "I heard that this third young lady had shown her skills in the hunt, and also presented a sword dance at the Lunar New Year Festival, her martial arts skills are extremely extraordinary, so I can let Jiang'er spar with her, which is the best thing to do." 　　Lan Lingjiao couldn't help it, so she had to call Xiaoxiao to come out. 　　Xiaoxiao received the wind today, has long been in the garden to hide tightly, only with the three servants in the "Yueyang Tower" hall playing horse hanging. Suddenly, she heard that she had been summoned to go out to spar with that worldly woman, and her hand was so loose that the cards she played were lost to Shen Bi. 　　Xiaoxiao pushed the card and shouted: "Bad luck, bad luck! I have to go and make amends to a nasty person early in the morning, it's better if I'm really sick!" 　　Chun He said, "What a mouthful of words!" 　　Shen Bi was also busy saying, "Quickly change into the clothes you need to wear to meet the guests, the King has recently paid a lot of attention to the young lady, the young lady must not let her down." 　　After coaxing Xiaoxiao to change into some bright clothes and combing her hair, Xiaoxiao said, "I don't know if that woman has brought her evil servants here, so to avoid the trouble, I'd like to have some makeup." 　　Now with powder on the face of a thin layer, making the color pale, and with the fingertips dipped in the conch daisy smeared under the eyes, make a panda eyes, take the mirror to look at themselves, self-consciousness, if there is a sick face, square to the front hall to go. 　　To the front, the end of the solemn attitude, to the guests one by one salute. King E laughed and said: "good handsome young lady, the king is really good fortune." 　　Lanling only laughed: "Yue'er's body is thin, and this martial arts skill is only practiced for self-defense." 　　Zhao Jiang, the daughter of the Southwest family, came over to take Xiaoxiao's hand, looked up and down, and laughed: "The third young lady looks like a dainty boy, which really makes people feel sorry for her, so how could she not be scared of her by dancing with a sword and playing with a gun for the first time!" 　　Xiaoxiao heard this woman speak really funny, stifled her laughter, then raised her eyes to look at her. 　　Only to see this Zhao Jiang looks stout, face red, eyebrows thick mouth square, have a few girls male appearance, a pair of eyes eyes are not correct, like to squint and look askance at people, a look of colorful. 　　Zhao E laughed: "Said you want to cut with others is you, now people out, said don't is you again." 　　Zhao Jiang squinted and laughed, "I saw that this Yue Mei is good-looking and was afraid of scaring her. However, it's good to have a sparring session, I will be careful to keep it on point." Said pinched Xiaoxiao's hand. 　　Xiaoxiao felt like swallowing a caterpillar in her heart, her body's cold hairs all stood up, actually had a few points of being eaten by a man's tofu feeling. 　　Zhao Jiang, however, came close to her ear and whispered, "Sister Yue, those few worthless things under my command dared to offend you, thanks to you helping to teach a lesson, enough to feel the hospitality." 　　Xiaoxiao's face did not move, but in her heart, she had already overturned the sauce store, with all the flavors. 　　She secretly glanced at King Jie, but King Jie only slightly shook his head and did not show any sign. She thought to herself, "Since I've taught you, I won't pretend anymore. The person is I hit, this matter is each other's heart, want me to be embarrassed can show some real skills! 　　The underlings carried a variety of weapons up, Zhao Jiang picked a silver gun, smile will hold a sword. 　　At this time in the courtyard flower pots and stone tables have been moved away, leaving a three-foot wide circle. 　　Lanling burberry outlet online said: "just a sparring match, point to point, please the world of women to take care of a little more." 　　Zhao Jiang laughed, "I'll save it!" 　　Called out, "Sister Yue, be careful!" In her hand, the lance shook, the red tassel flashed, and stabbed at her chest. 　　Xiaoxiao saw her this move force fierce move sinking, quite a momentum, also not hard to block, take the sword a tease, let the past. 　　At that moment, the two people have tens of strokes of the gun to the sword to demolish. This Zhao Jiang's horse stance is calm and steady, the gun is strong, there are a few real skills, if in the battlefield should be a tough general. Smiling smile, light and agile body, this kind of heavy and fierce moves but can't help her, right now, left and right, the other side of the strength of the set aside to dissolve, seemingly retreating, in fact, it is circling around the field, the most calm and relaxed. 　　Moment after a hundred strokes, Zhao Jiang a little impatient, called: "Yue sister, this is a sparring match, you are always hiding to hide what to do!" The hands of the lance a shake, even people with the gun to her pounced. 　　Well, if you don't hide, you don't hide! 　　Smiley smiled, her body swayed, not retreating but advancing, just rubbing the pole of the gun and taking advantage of her body blocking the crowd's line of sight, her wrist lurched, and the hilt of her sword bumped against Zhao Jiang's hand that was grasping the pole of the gun. 　　She wanted to remind Zhao Jiang to stop, but unexpectedly this time with her extremely close, Zhao Jiang suddenly in her ear low laugh: "If you lose, you have to accompany me for your little master!" Loosened his grip on the gun, quickly reached out and flicked his finger into the back of her hand. 　　Lightning flashes between the two brushed shoulders, smiling a shake to stand still, from face to ear are red hot. 　　Zhao Jiang yelled behind her, "The gun is coming!" A tiger rolled over, the long spear threw back from the shoulder and swung horizontally. 　　Xiaoxiao listened to the wind to recognize the shape, sideways rolled up, let through the sweeping spear, I did not expect that this gun is full of strength, but not to hurt people, but to drive her to their side. 　　Xiaoxiao is just confused, casually so flip, is in the way, and then flipped to Zhao Jiang side. The two of them were once again on the wrong side of the body, and Zhao Jiang this time said, "If I lose, I'll stay with you too!" 　　Xiaoxiao scolded in a low voice, "Dream on!" 　　Zhao Jiang laughed, more and more itchy, this time the lance is when the head smashed, smile is annoyed, this time also do not dodge, transport energy in the sword, fierce upward grid. 　　This gun smashed down the strength of heavy and fierce, she will make a ten percent strength to meet the frame, do not want that gun Fang fell to the spine of the sword, but also off the hand flew out. 　　Zhao Jiang let out a low cry, seemed to be very surprised, but Xiaoxiao heard a low laugh in her throat. Suddenly remembered what she had just said, busy also shouted "ouch", the sword in his hand also thrown away. 　　This time, into the two weapons intersected, both off hand, evenly matched, there is no question of who wins and who loses. 　　A gun and a sword successively fell to the ground, Zhao E's applause also came. Great praise: "Really wonderful, the third young lady of martial arts is strong, and Jiang'er can fight a draw, really worthy of being a young lady out of the Lanling family!" 　　The king humbly said, "It's still the reason why the world's daughter is careful and protects the dog daughter back." 　　The two returned to their seats, Zhao Jiang always looked askance at Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao glared at her a few times, but she smiled even more smugly, as if to say: I knew you would throw the sword to pretend to be even! 　　Xiaoxiao sat for a while, can not stand this person's eyes harassment, then stood up and pushed to do homework to go, Fang out of the body. All the way back to the garden, only feel sticky body sweat, so uncomfortable. 　　That night, the Southwest King mother and daughter in Lanling King's residence. 　　The king hosted a banquet, Zhao Jiang only said to see the third miss. Xiaoxiao pretending to be sick, afraid of pestering, they want to go out of the house to avoid. 　　She traveled to Bihu, a flash of silhouette in front of her eyes, Zhao Jiang from the shadows rushed out, stopping a square. Laughing: "stay at home more boring, I am trying to go out to find fun, Yue sister accompany me to go." 　　Xiaoxiao said, "I'm not familiar with the city, I'd rather stay in the royal residence." 　　Zhao Jiang yelled, "If you are not familiar with it, I have a friend who is familiar with it, and with her leading the way, there will be new and interesting things to see, and she will never let you down." 　　A hand on her shoulder, holding the line. 　　Xiaoxiao had no choice but to follow her. 　　When they left the mansion, they saw a small carriage waiting. Zhao Jiang called out, "Jing'er, Jing'er." 　　The carriage curtains lifted, a young girl probed out and laughed: "Waiting for a long time, just came ah!" She let the two of them get on the carriage and sit down. 　　Zhao Jiang said: "This is my good friend Liu Jing, this pleasure-seeking, the matter of the moon and wind without boundaries to find her will be right." 　　On the one hand, he shook Liu Jing's hand and said with a smile, "This is the third miss of the King of Lanling, a new friend." 　　Liu Jing turned a pair of silky winks toward Xiaoxiao's face and smiled back, "It's really a wonderful person." 　　Xiaoxiao began to feel that although this woman is delicate, but also nothing, gradually saw Zhao Jiang and her situation, Fang felt that it is not right. 　　Only see this willow crystal to fix the eyebrows thin, the following halo, into a pair of inverted halo eyebrow, face pounced a layer of fine powder, fragrant wind Xi Xi, Zhu lips pointing red to drip rouge, even the nails are also dyed with a light pink, is dressed extremely charming and exquisite. 　　But this is clearly a female world ah, women overdressed will be regarded as male male cavity, and this Liu Jing more than overdressed, that kind of flirtatious charming state is like a woman in a greenhouse general, soul-stealing. 　　Smile suddenly a cold war, and she hooked or another woman's soul! 　　At once, I felt that the shoulder which was just put over by Zhao Jiang was so itchy that it seemed to be gnawed by ants.