Chapter 15 - Each Other

　　I end of the tea, to porcelain lid slowly dialing the water floating tea leaves, did not say a word. 　　Kneeling at the bottom of the hall, a woman, a new silk jacket, wearing a gold bracelet on the wrist, at this moment the face is as colorful as dirt, bowed head on the ground. This Feng had already knelt with two concubines in front of the court for a long time, I only summoned her to come in, still let the two women kneel outside. 　　After she bowed to me, I only bowed my head to sip tea, did not say anything, let her continue to kneel. 　　Earlier, when I was dressing, I listened to Yu Xiu say a general, all kinds of personnel in the royal family, I have already counted. 　　Feng's original is Xiao Qi side of a Lu surname senator's wife. 　　Xiao Qi is busy with military affairs, around the staff vice generals are a group of men, long no woman to take care of the internal affairs of the royal family. So he recommended his new wife, who was married in Ningshuo, to join him in the palace for the time being. Feng came from a rich family, knew how to read and write, and was also smart and capable, so she took care of the royal residence in an orderly manner. Xiao Qi never asked about the internal affairs of the house, the day-to-day affairs are made by Feng, just like the identity of the head of the royal family. 　　Two years ago, Feng identified two beautiful women from her family to bring into the royal residence to serve Xiao Qi. 　　According to Yuxiu, Xiao Qi is always on the warpath and rarely gets close to women. That Yu'er and Qingliu have served in the bed, but no name. Just because I am far away in Hui Zhou, there is no other female family members in the house, a moment to the master of the self, looking forward to the future sealed side consort, from now on to rise in the world. 　　With Xiao Qi's age and status, before Ning Shuo, I think he also had other concubines. 　　However, I have never heard of him having an heir. 　　I asked Yu Xiu, but Yu Xiu is still young and ignorant, red-faced answer. 　　I laughed bitterly, born in the Hou family palace, other not seen much, concubines compete for favor to seize the heir is to see a lot. 　　In front of the hall is silent, all the people hang their heads to keep quiet, Feng's sweaty kneeling on the ground, the initial arrogance of the look has completely disappeared. 　　I put aside the tea, spoke faintly, "Why do you want to see me?" 　　Feng's busy kowtowed: "Back to the words of the princess, slave girl is by the order of the king, bring two girls to make amends, listen to the chastisement." 　　"When did I say I would be chastised?" I smiled idly, "How did this word get around?" 　　Seeing Feng's eyes flicker, I lazily said, "You lead the person back, there is nothing to chastise here." 　　Feng's face gusts of green and white, bowed her head and said, "slave girl confused, the king originally sent two maidservants over to serve the princess ...... slave girl ashamed of not being properly trained, dare to lead the two of her to come to ask for punishment, willing to receive the princess chastisement." 　　I coldly look at her, the original is to want to make a big deal out of it, to ask me to get chastisement, this put off the past, salvage the last ray of hope. Boldness is not small, but unfortunately this Feng is too careless to bluff, one look at the momentum is not right, will be the old master thrown away, hastily leaning towards me. 　　"I see." I sat idly, only smiled and said, "What did the king say?" 　　Feng lowered her voice and said in a weak voice, "The king said ...... that since the princess wants two maids, sending them is." 　　I was silent, my heart was mixed. 　　Previously reprimanded the two concubines, I did it on purpose, I expected them to be wronged in my place, will find Xiao Qi crying. I want to take this opportunity to see how Xiao Qi responds - right now, it seems that he does not care about those two women at all. 　　This result was also expected by me. 　　Xiao Qi is not that sentimental person, will not for the sake of two concubines, and the status of the consort of the face. However, think of his treatment of concubines of the cold, it is inevitable heart fox sad feeling. Not to mention the color of the love slack, that is, when the favor of the time, but also is just a plaything can be discarded. 　　Feng's see my silence, smile: "the two maidservants known repentance, how to deal with, I hope the princess show." 　　"Expel them from the mansion." I faintly said. 　　Feng was shocked, forgetting her etiquette, looking up at me in horror, "Wangfei is saying ......" 　　I no longer said another word, coldly dropping my eyes. 　　"Slave servant understands." Feng's face was ashen, stiffly kowtowed down and said in a trembling voice, "The slave servant will go and do it." 　　She thought that I was just playing up to the majesty of the crown princess, and that chastising and abusing the two maidservants would be enough. After all, it is Xiao Qi's side of the people, now allocated to me as a servant girl to use, has given me enough face, at most some chastisement, suffer some pain. When my anger subsides, there will always be a chance to turn around. Perhaps even Xiao Qi thought, I am just jealous of jealousy, concubines competing for favor only ...... I looked down and examined my own trimmed fingertips, slightly related. 　　I will not give him the slightest opportunity to look down on me again. 　　The two concubines were taken out without even stepping foot in the door of my room. 　　Outside the courtyard came the sounds of Yu'er and Qingliu crying and struggling, gradually going farther away, their voices also lowered. 　　I walked to the door, stood silently for a while, turned back and was about to step into the inner room, suddenly a gust of wind rose, blowing my sash fluttering. 　　Turn around and look back out of the court, in front of the summer shade is getting thicker, the last remnants of the flowers in late spring, was swept by a breeze, have sprinkled down. 　　The remaining flowers like red face general thin life. 　　The wrong life, choose the wrong road, meet the wrong person. 　　Some people are certainly born wrong life, and then happy to know life, the original can also be peaceful life. The most pitiful, a kind of heart is higher than the sky, life is thinner than paper. The other is the body can not help, step by step thorns, either to expand the road ahead, or stuck in the old place. 　　I walked slowly from the eyes of the crowd, and wherever I passed, everyone bowed their heads. 　　A cadre of servants and maids standing next to each other, from the beginning to the end, the atmosphere dare not breathe. 　　Looking at the past two of the most powerful, so was expelled from the royal residence, from beginning to end but half a day's light. 　　Once upon a time, everyone was in awe of my identity. Now, they are only in awe of me, only my iron heart, strong means ...... I am not a good person, born in the bones of the cold blood of the power family. 　　From now on, no one dares to defy my dignity and disobey my will. Even Xiao Qi, do not want to see in me here concubines competing for favor. 　　This family name and the blood flowing in my bones will not allow me to accept such an insult. 　　As a woman's self-respect, even more so, does not allow me to accept a man who is being shared - I wait to see, to see how the hallowed King of Yuzhang, the Great General, my husband, will respond to my determination. 　　The desk has been piled up with crumpled waste paper, none of which has been drawn. The paper outlined pavilions and water pavilions, bananas green, cherries red, vaguely still the old days. I stared blankly at the mess of ink marks, and my mind could not be at peace anymore. 　　May, again is the time to share the cherry ...... "tree to share the cherry, red and purple by your pick, non-lang favorite green, for the sake of a sister often laugh." This song is often sung by young men and women in the capital, and once upon a time, there was a young man like that, sharing cherries with me. 　　My mind was in a trance for a moment, my wrist involuntarily trembled, and a ball of thick ink fell from the tip of the brush, blotting out on the paper. 　　"Wasted again." I straightened up, put the pen down, and sighed faintly. 　　Books to calm the mind, paintings to delight the spirit, but the current state of mind, what is painted is not what is painted, the more it calls for annoyance. 　　I closed the door all day long, only buried in the painting and calligraphy, so that people look, I am afraid it is a leisurely and contented. 　　Really relaxed and at ease, or negative for, only I know myself. 　　A few days passed in a row, Xiao Qi did not respond. 　　The expulsion of his concubines seemed to have nothing to do with him. What I did, he did not seem to care. This matter, no longer anyone's attention, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, so noiselessly sank. 　　For several days, I didn't even say a word to Xiao Qi. He came to see me once in a while, but only left in a hurry. 　　Two days late at night, he quietly came over, I had already gone to bed. Clearly the inner room is still lit by candlelight, I still lean on the pillow to read, but he did not let the maid to report, only in front of the court quietly stood for a while, and then left again. 　　He is outside, I know, Yu Xiu mouth dare not say, only to take the eyes constantly glancing to the outside. 　　I only pretend not to know, put out the lamp and candle, side sleep. 　　He is just waiting for me to bow my head, waiting for me to open my mouth first to explain to him. 　　I was sitting under the window, to the white paper and ink for half a day, do not realize that the sun is already sinking, into the evening. 　　Yu Xiu opened the maid to pass the meal, these days, she and I familiar with, gradually bold, more show clever and sharp. A fifteen year old girl, can learn to be so well-behaved, I'm afraid that she has also suffered too much, more and more make me pity. 　　"All go down, I'll be the one to serve here." Yu Xiu learned an old-fashioned tone and dismissed the maidservants. 　　I glanced at her in amusement, but I saw her look around and quietly open the food box. 　　"Your Highness, I've found something good!" Her smiling eyes curved, and the tip of her slightly arched nose was playful and cute. 　　A strong aroma of wine spread out, I was stunned, then surprised, "You found wine!" 　　"Keep your voice down, but don't let anyone hear you!" Yuxiu panicked and twisted her head to look out the door, quietly covering her mouth, "I stole it from the kitchen." 　　I was amused by her appearance, playful, never drank stolen wine in my life, and immediately became interested. 　　Since I arrived at Ningshuo, I have been sick and injured, and the doctor repeatedly told me to stop drinking. Now that I've recovered from most of my injuries, I haven't tasted a single sip of wine. At this time, when I smelled the fragrance and freshness of the wine, I was naturally delighted, and my despondency was put aside for the time being. 　　I sent away other maids of honor, with Yu Xiu together hands, will be moved to the table in front of the garden under the shade of the flowers, forced Yu Xiu stay with me to drink. 　　I do not want this little girl actually also greedy, wine to slightly drunk, gradually face hot talk more and more. 　　Yu Xiu talked about her father's addiction to alcohol, often drunkenly scolded her. 　　"Where is your father now?" I have three points of alcohol, propped up his forehead, frowning asked. 　　"Passed away long ago, mother is also gone ......," she ambled on the case, her voice slurred, "sometimes I want father to scold me again, but I can't find anyone, I'm left alone... ..." 　　I thought of my father in a daze, sadness in my heart, was about to ask her again, but saw that she had huffed and puffed to sleep. 　　Under the shade of the night flowers, her face flushed, clearly still a child. I smiled and shook my head, carrying half a jug of residual wine to get up, staggering towards the flowers and shadows of the place, want to find a clean and uninhabited place, alone to finish this pot of residual wine. 　　All around a moment of silence, only to listen to the grass to promote the weaving of the night song, the border of the moon like a practice, starry clouds. 　　"Under the tree to share the cherries, red and purple by your choice, non-lang favorite green, in order to win the sister always laugh." I unconsciously hummed this proverb again, and my feet were momentarily weak, so I leaned on a nearby white stone and sat down. My hair had already been loosely tied up in a bun, so I took off my embroidered shoes, lifted the pot to my mouth, and tilted my head back to drink. 　　The same night, the same color of the moon, who once accompanied me to get drunk. 　　I tried my best not to think of that name, but how can I not wave away the bright white figure in front of me. 　　The eyes gradually lost, knowing that it is an illusion, but also hate to get closer. However, only a moment, all kinds of illusions have disappeared, leaving behind the flowers and shadows of the deep, the night is quiet and no one. I smiled bitterly and raised the wine pot, let the wine pouring, sprinkled a face, woke me up. 　　The pot gradually empty, I tilted my head, want to drink the last sip, steeply in the hands of an empty, the wine pot actually disappeared. 　　Someone behind me snatched the jug with a split hand and wrapped me in a hug. 　　"Don't mess around, Zi Tama ......," I closed my eyes and smiled, letting myself sink into the illusion. 　　Not waiting for me to open my eyes again, my waist tightened, my body suddenly lifted up in the air, and I was actually being held across the waist. 　　I only feel light, only suspect myself in a dream, can not help but murmur: "I have now married someone, you do not know ......" 　　But his arms only held me tighter. 　　Tears rolled down, and I closed my eyes tightly, not daring to see Zi Tan's face, and said grimly, "He, he treats me very well ...... You go ......" 　　He paused, and then his arms tightened, hooping me so that I could not move. 　　I can not help but reach out to push him, and where I touched my hand, it was a cold iron armor. 　　Under this shock, I lifted my eyes in dismay, the wine suddenly shocked away most of my mind, and then woke up - in front of me, was Xiao Qi's furious face. 　　I lost my mind in a flash, I couldn't say a word, I only felt that the sky was spinning. 　　Without a word, Xiao Qi carried me into the inner room and placed me on the couch. The room has not yet lighted the lamp, in the darkness can not see his complexion, only to see the outline of his side face seems to be the moonlight covered with a layer of frost. 　　Chest a cold, the lapel was actually torn open by him, half of the outer garment has been removed from the shoulders. 　　"Don't!" I snapped back to my senses, covering the lapel of my coat, hastily dodging towards the corner of the bed. 　　He looked at me coldly, there seemed to be a sharp edge in his eyes, "Don't what?" 　　I couldn't catch my breath for a moment, my heart beating rapidly, only shaking my head in panic, cowering in the corner of the bed. 　　Seeing him lean over again, I was so shocked that I got up and wanted to escape, but my wrists were clasped by him. 　　"What do you think I'm going to do when you're covered in wine and don't take it off?" He snapped, his hands splitting and ripping off my half-wet shirt, along with the blasphemy underneath. 　　I froze, looking at my own clothes were completely removed, snow-white dazzling skin was exposed in front of his eyes, not a single inch left. 　　This is not the first time he took off my clothes, nor is it the first time he saw my body. I was already his wife, and even if everything was seen by him, it was only natural - but only not in such a way, such an offense! 　　As he leaned down again to remove my skirt, I swung out with a backhanded slap. 　　"I am your husband." Without lifting his head, he pinched my wrist, "Not someone you can just lay your hands on." 　　He looked at me coldly, the corners of his lips pursed like a thin blade, "My woman can be proud, not arrogant." 　　I huffed backward, the alcohol surged up, and the anger and aggression that had been suppressed for days forced their way into my heart together. 　　"I am also your wife, not your enemy, not a fiery horse you have to tame!" I raised my eyes to look directly at him, and as I exited the sentence, I was already choking, tears falling uncontrollably. I bit my lip and turned my face sideways, chagrined that these unstoppable tears gave away my vulnerability. 　　He was silent for a moment, let go of my wrist, took an outer robe to wrap me up, raised his hand to caress my face. 　　I violently brushed away his hand, and said angrily, "If I were arrogant, would I have been repeatedly humiliated by you? Married for three years, I alone in Hui Zhou, not half a bit sorry you, but you are here to enjoy the happiness of all ...... Xiao Qi, you ask yourself, can I ever truly as your wife?" 　　He was stunned, fixedly looking at me, the color in his eyes is unpredictable. 　　"No matter what you married me for, and no matter whether you regard me as your wife or not, what happened before is over, and I don't blame you!" My tears fell like rain, even my voice was trembling, "From now on, I don't care if you have three wives and four concubines, you are in Ningshuo, I'll go back to the capital, so the sky is long and the earth is far away, and each of us is at peace. You do your Yuzhang King, I do my County Lord, instead of sharing the same bed, why don't we--" 　　"Shut up!" He suddenly rebuked angrily. 　　My chin was pinched hard by him, and I could no longer say anything. 　　His eyes were so bright that they burned, reflecting the moonlight and clearly illuminating my shadow. And in my eyes, I am afraid that they are also full of his shadow. 　　At this moment, we only have each other in our eyes, there is nothing else, heaven and earth are all clear. No one said a word, but I have been trembling, tears slipped down the temples, slid down the cheeks, slipped into his palm. I never knew I could have so many tears, it seems that the grief and sorrow that I have been holding back for three years are all flowing out in this moment. 　　He gazed at me for a long time, the anger in his eyes slightly converged, there was a little gloomy. 　　A long time silence, only to hear him sighed: "so broken words, you can even get out of the mouth." 　　I choked, at first heard his mouth said "break love and justice" four words, actually seems to be what a stimulus, say no more words. 　　"You really do not care?" He forced to look at me, deep eyes disappeared plain sharp, only feel depressed. 　　This question, asked my heart and soul shook. 　　I really do not care about it, this marriage, this man ...... has been my life reversal, I can still lie to myself that do not care? 　　Cold moonlight reflected in his eyes, only to feel the boundless loneliness, I feel like this moment Xiao Qi into another person, not the world's great generals, not the power of the Yuzhang king, only a lonely man. 　　I don't believe that he would be lonely, but I clearly saw in his eyes a deep loneliness and disillusionment. 　　The moonlight seems to have turned into water, slowly dripping from my heart, the bottom of my heart a little bit soft, through the vaguely sour. 　　He looked at me deeply, "If you don't care, then why are you holding on to the two concubines?" 　　I momentarily angry bitter, off the mouth said: "who grips with, I am just annoyed you ......" words off the mouth, only to realize that the words, but has been unable to take back. I was embarrassed to stay, baffled, biting his lips, and his eyes relative, his eyes steeply warm. 　　"Annoyed me what?" He leaned over and looked at me with a smirk, "annoyed that I have another woman, or annoyed that I don't care?" 　　With this iterative question, he dismantled the layers of my mind, dismantling me to the point of no return. 　　I glared at him fiercely and fought to break free from the grip of his arms. This hateful man laughed instead, catching me in both hands and pressing me down onto the pillow. He leaned over to look at me, only a stone's throw away, his breath warmly brushing against the nape of his neck, "This woman of yours, you always refuse to speak properly, and you have to be forced to show your true nature." 　　I was so angry with him that I was dizzy, and I didn't care about any grooming, I only kicked and punched at him. 　　He laughed lowly in my ear, "That's right, harsh and jealous, just like the real woman who loved and hated like fire on the cliffside that day!" 　　I happen to break free from the right hand, was about to indignantly slap at him, heard this sentence on the edge of the cliff, suddenly a shock, staring at the hand, no longer hit. The scene of the life and death of the scene in front of me, his hand, his sword, his eyes ...... He caught my hand, pressed in front of the chest, that a cold iron armor touching the hands of the cold. 　　I stared at him in a daze, full of softness, no longer annoyed not to come. 　　"Why are you wearing armor?" I asked in a low voice, it's so late, could it be that he still wants to go out? 　　He smiled faintly, "I am about to patrol the camp defense." 　　"It's already past midnight ......," I frowned, thinking of his recent successive busyness, I can't help but feel a chill in my heart, "But something happened?" 　　"Nothing, military affairs cannot be slackened for a day." He smiled, his eyebrows returned to their usual solemnity, "The hour is not early, you rest." 　　I nodded with my eyes downcast, but did not know what to say. Seeing him turn around and leave, suddenly remembered, I quickly got up and called him, "Wait! Your cloak is still here ...... the night outside is cool ......" 　　Greeted his glittering gaze, my voice did not feel light and thin down, behind the ear fever, and then can not speak. 　　He also did not say anything, silently turned back, from my hand to take the cloak. 　　I lowered my head, not daring to look at him. 　　He suddenly lifted my face, not allowing me to return to God, his lips have covered down ...... steeply heaven and earth, as if a fiery storm will sweep me, a strong man's breath, irresistible power, as if a siege of the attack, strong and direct, without half a minute of hesitation, and ruthlessly routed the bottom of my heart, the most secret of the love of a place. 　　A long time ago, so long ago that I have almost forgotten that there was a teenager at that time, who had tenderly kissed me ...... under the nine corridors of the Rocking Light Hall, the breeze whisks the clothes, the new willow is like an eyebrow, and the teenager who is as gentle and elegant as the spring water bends his head and gently kisses my lips. Crispy, warm, marvelous to make my eyes wide open. 　　The memory of that first kiss ended with my unintelligible scream, "Ah, Zitama, you bit me!" 　　Zitama, Zitama. 　　All the strength around me disappeared, I was unsteady on my feet, and was wrapped around his waist with one hand. This strong arm, belongs to Xiao Qi, belongs to my husband ...... Today is not yesterday, that gentle and elegant young man has already gone away with my yesterday, as if it were a different world. 　　Xiao Qi's voice is low and strong, "Between you and me, there is no one else." 　　I shuddered and closed my eyes, not daring to look up. He is aware of it, perhaps I already knew it when he married me early in the morning. In the past, everyone in the capital, everyone knows that Shangyang county princess and the third highness is a pair of good-looking people ...... just drunkenly said, but also all by him to hear. 　　I shrank for a while, suddenly felt cold, and then realized that I was barefoot on the ground. 　　Xiao Qi looked at my barefoot appearance, but smile, re-carry me back to the bed. 　　He gazed at me, his expression was gentle, his brow was with a wrinkle, just like a knife carving. 　　"In the future, I will not have another woman." He smiled faintly, then stood up, "Between you and me, there will be no one else either." 　　He walked out without looking back, I stared at his back in a daze, and after a while, I still felt that his breath still lingered around.