How many times rose flowers

Chapter 17

When Yuzhen returned home, Anian was sitting on the steps in front of the door waiting for her.

It was late at night, only the red lanterns of the restaurant not far away glowed faintly, and the surroundings of the yard were pitch-black.

"Ah Nian, it's so dark outside, go in quickly." Yuzhen pulled Xiao Jixue over and walked into the room.

"Sister, Ah Nian is not afraid of the dark." Xiao Jixue said seriously.Actually she lied.She is afraid of the dark, very afraid.So after having a nightmare, I came out and waited for sister.

"Yes, we, Anian, are the bravest." Yumao didn't pierce, but said with a smile.

After taking care of Ah Nian to sleep, Yuzhen remembered what happened during the day, and couldn't fall asleep left and right, so she simply got up and went for a walk in the yard.Going for a walk at night, maybe only she can think of it and do it.

There was no light in the yard at night, so Yuzhen was leaning on the big tree with a piece of dogtail grass in his mouth, kicking stones boredly.

The strange thing is that she hasn't felt tired since she came back.Could it be that he has improved his cultivation because he defeated the spider?

Just as he was thinking, two young men walked towards him.One of the youths was about 20 years old, dressed in a purple robe, wearing a sword, and looked imposing.The other was much more peaceful in temperament.

The one with a calm temperament asked: "Dare to ask, is your Excellency Yuzhen?"

"Yes." Yuzhen was a little strange.She is only 16 years old this year, how can she afford the words "Dare to ask" and "Your Excellency"?

"Your Excellency Yuzhen, His Majesty the Emperor of Heaven wants to see you, please come back to Penglai with us." The other party said.

The three pinched a teleportation talisman and arrived at Penglai above the Nine Heavens.The two men led the jade mat into a palace, saluted the Emperor of Heaven and said, "Your Majesty the Emperor of Heaven."

Yuzhen imitated them and bowed in a polite manner, looking into the eyes of the God of Heaven, who seemed to be only 40 or [-] years old, which was considered young, unlike the old men with long beards in her imagination.

"Shuofeng. Yue'an." The Heavenly Emperor nodded slightly. 'Shuo Feng' must be the name of the priest with a peaceful temperament, and 'Yue'an' is the boy in purple robe.Fengshen Shuofeng and Xingjun Yuean are really the two immortals who are praised by the world.

"The jade mat listens to the decree," said the priest who announced the decree.

For no reason, Yuzhen was dragged to kneel down by the two priests.

"Shangshen Yumao has made great achievements in punishing evil. Today, he is named the god of water, commanding all corners of the world, and bestowing Shuiyue Pavilion as his residence. I hope you will work hard and live up to the emperor's expectations."

"Yuzhen thank you for the kindness of the Emperor of Heaven." Yuzhen said with a sense of current affairs.

Then, Yuzhen realized one thing: she had ascended.Just like in countless legendary stories, meeting Fengshen and Xingjun inexplicably, and then arriving in Penglai inexplicably.

……

When the jade mat went down to the world, it was already the next morning in the world.Gods cannot stay in the mortal world, so she had no choice but to entrust Ah Nian to the couple in the yard next door, and gave them enough money to take care of Ah Nian—the master has to deal with the affairs of the Xiuyuan Gate every day, and there is no way to help her. She takes care of Ah Nian.

After dealing with all this, just as Yuzhen was about to leave, Anian grabbed her by the corner of her clothes.

"Sister, where are you going?"

"Ah Nian, my sister is going to a place far, far away."

"Then sister will come back?"

"..." Yuzhen was silent.She couldn't bear to tell Ah Nian the fact that she would never come back.After a long time, she patted Ah Nian's head and said reassuringly, "Yes."

Yuzhen has become the water god of Penglai, and Xiao Jixue has become a drop in the ocean in the vast sea.In one thought, the two sisters have taken different paths from now on.

The next day, Xiao Jixue heard such a conversation from the courtyard next door:

"That girl Yuzhen left without saying a word, leaving behind such a young sister, what should I do?" It was a middle-aged woman who spoke.

"Hey, although Yuzhen helped us in the past, and she also paid for childcare, but this little money is only enough to support her until Jiji." The person talking to her was a middle-aged man, who should be her husband. .

"It's better to sell this little girl and earn some money."

"Good idea, just do it."

Xiao Jixue listened to their conversation, completely unaware of the seriousness of the matter.She didn't know what they meant, and she didn't know where her elder sister Yuzhen went.

……

When she woke up again, she was in a carriage.The carriage was extremely bumpy, and several girls who were about her age were tied hands and feet and thrown into the carriage.

"Little sister, have you been sold out by your family too?" One of the girls, about eleven or twelve years old, talked to her.

"It's impossible for my sister to sell me, she is the best and best sister in the world." After saying this, Xiao Jixue remembered that my sister had already left, and went to a place far, far away .

So, have you been abandoned again?

Xiao Jixue couldn't help thinking of the scene when she went to her father's house to beg him to save her mother's life a few years ago, but was driven out with a stick by the servants.

That's right, my sister has also left, and no one will touch her head to comfort her anymore.My heart felt inexplicably sad.

Xiao Jixue didn't know how long she had been in the carriage, but all she knew was that suddenly one day, the dim carriage was no longer in front of her eyes, but a strange face.

It was a girl of the same age as her.She was dressed gorgeously, she looked like a lady from some family.

"I bought this girl." She pointed to Xiao Jixue, and threw a bag of silver taels to the boy in front of the carriage.Ren Yazi got the silver, pushed and shoved Xiao Jixue out of the carriage, and drove away in the carriage.

The young lady led her back to the mansion where the young lady lived, washed her and changed her into clean clothes.

"What's your name?" asked the lady.

"A Nian." Xiao Jixue replied.

"My name is Li Bai. If you teach that there is no hatred for Li Bai in your eyes, you don't believe that there are gray heads in the world⑴." Miss——Li Bai said.

Xiao Jixue nodded ignorantly, and silently memorized the poem and the name.

"Ah Nian, I don't have enough money to save all of you. Fortunately, I saved you." In the following years, this was what Ah Nian heard most often.

In the second year when Xiao Jixue came to Libai Mansion, two impressive things happened.First, Qin Feiyu found her.Strange to say, Yuzhen was the only one who didn't say goodbye to the old man. He was also very anxious when he saw his apprentice disappeared, so he found Xiao Jixue by mistake.

Qin Feiyu couldn't help sighing when she heard what happened.Why didn't he know that Yuzhen is a rare ascension destiny in a thousand years, but ascension is too early, which is not a good thing for her.

"A Nian, are you willing to worship me as your teacher?" It was the same question again.Once upon a time, he also said this to Yuzhen.

"But..." But didn't you say that my fate is uncertain, you can't teach a disciple like me?Xiao Jixue was puzzled.

"I did say before that your fate is uncertain, but the fate of the world has never been determined by God, but by man." Qin Feiyu continued, "A Nian, what is your belief?"

"Gods won't save me, I don't believe in gods. I only believe that man can conquer nature." Xiao Jixue said seriously.

Hence, Xiao Jixue was Miss Li Bai's companion during the day, went to school with her, and practiced the martial arts Qin Feiyu taught her in the evening.In this way, I don’t feel tired every day, but just enjoy it.

Besides, the second thing is that Li Bai's father passed away unexpectedly.

That day, the peach blossoms were in full bloom.Recipe, Shining.Xiao Jixue climbed up a branch, folded a handful of peach blossoms, and wanted to give it to Miss Li Bai, but saw the house full of white silks and satins and people who came to express their condolences.

On Li Bai's face was an expression she had never seen before.Is that a distaste for those phony mourners?

"What time is it? You still have the heart to pluck these peach blossoms." The butler came to him at some point.Several strong men came forward and beat and kicked her, and she was punished to kneel in front of the ancestral hall.

When she saw the memorial tablet in the ancestral hall, Xiao Jixue realized that it was none other than Li Bai's father who died.

As for this kneeling, it will take three days.When Li Bai found her, her body was covered with whip marks, and she passed out in front of the ancestral hall.

After that, due to the lack of income in the mansion, Li Bai's mother dismissed the housekeeper and most of the servants, leaving only a few people who served all the year round, including Xiao Jixue.Xiao Jixue knew that although she was Li Bai's accompanying student, Li Bai's mother treated her as her own daughter, and for this, she was always grateful.

So every year when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, she picked her favorite peach blossoms for Miss Li Bai as a comfort.Such an ordinary and beautiful life lasted for a long time until that year.

That year, Jixue was 15 years old.

The forest is deep, the breeze blows, the branches and leaves sway, evoking the fragrance of leaves.The sun shines on the trees, casting mottled shadows.On the swing by the side of the tree, the girl was wearing a hibiscus purple dress, holding a booklet in her hand, and was reading it earnestly.

Unconsciously, it was dusk, the girl raised her hand to cover the afterglow of the setting sun, and was about to leave.

Suddenly, the aroma of peach blossoms came from the tip of the nose, and a peach blossom in full bloom was in front of my eyes.

"A Nian?" The girl took the peach branch with a smile, and looked at the girl who was standing beside her at some time.Ah Nian was wearing plain white clothes, her eyes were crescent-like, she was really pretty.

"Li Bai, I knew you were here as soon as I guessed it. Hurry up, Madam is urging you to go back." Ah Nian said.

"Okay." The girl - Li Bai nodded, and the two walked hand in hand on the forest path.

Back at the mansion, it was already night and Jixue and Li Bai went to bed separately.Jixue was lying on the bed, and suddenly woke up, and heard the voice of servants running and shouting:

"Go away, go out!"

Tank after tank of water was poured down, but the fire did not decrease at all.

Jixue saw at a glance that it was a fire created by magic, and ordinary water couldn't extinguish it at all.

Ji Xue immediately ran out of the house and asked, "Where is Miss Li Bai?"

"Miss, she ran back to find Madam." A servant replied.

Jixue ran towards the yard.

"Hey, someone has already gone back to look for them, what are you doing?" Behind him, the servant asked puzzled.

"I want to protect myself, and the people I want to protect."

……

The fire showed no signs of abating, and at the same time, Jixue finally ran to the courtyard where Li Bai and his wife were.

"Li Bai, Li Bai!" Jixue shouted loudly.

No one responded.In front of him was a raging fire and houses burning in the fire.

She rushed in without thinking.

People say, "One thought becomes a Buddha, and one thought becomes a demon."Jixue's thought is to stop watching the people around him leave, even if it's just for a moment.

Under the collapsed beams, the wife half-kneeled on the ground, her appearance was no longer bright.Li Bai had already collapsed beside her and passed out.The madam defended her daughter tightly, preventing the flames from burning her.

"Ma'am, Miss Li Bai." Jixue called out.

"A Nian?" Madam suddenly turned her head and stared at her.She staggered to her feet, and Jixue quickly helped her hold Li Bai.

"Ma'am, let's go." Jixue said.

While speaking, a flaming beam fell down and hit the madam.

"Ma'am!" Jixue turned pale with shock, and tried to help her move the beam, but it was of no avail.

"You...take Li Bai and go away..." Madam's voice was weak.

Several servants rushed over when they heard the commotion here.Madam immediately ordered: "Take Li Bai and Anian and leave, hurry up!"

Several people were ordered, almost dragging Jixue and the unconscious Li Bai to the open space in front of the mansion.At this time, Qin Feiyu got the news, and he had already brought his disciples with powerful spells to put out the fire.

"What are your future plans? Why don't you follow me back to Xiuyuan Gate." Qin Feiyu said.

"No, after what happened to Miss Li Bai, she can't live without someone to take care of her." Jixue shook her head.

Afterwards, they buried their wife and others who died in the fire on a small slope outside Yingzhou, and set up several simple tombstones.Later, a dense forest grew on the small soil slope, and there was a small village named "Sangma Village" outside the forest.But that's all for later.

Li Bai woke up again, and saw Jixue standing beside him.She asked hoarsely: "A Nian, mother kisses her..."

"Ma'am, she passed away." Jixue said.

"Why, why didn't you save her." Li Bai's voice gradually trailed off, and she hugged herself helplessly, trying to absorb some warmth.

"I'm sorry, I..." Jixue thought for a long time, but she couldn't come up with a reason, so she simply gave up.Maybe she is really not very good at comforting people.

"Can you take me to see mother's tomb?" Li Bai suddenly raised his head and asked.

The answer is of course yes.Jixue took her to the small slope and found Li Bainiang's tombstone.Li Bai could not afford to kneel in front of the tomb.

Li Bai was crying.

Li Bai has always been gentle but strong, and Ji Xue seldom saw her cry.But now, she inexplicably understands Li Bai's feelings - on that snowy night, she also hugged her mother's corpse alone and cried for a long, long time.

Knowing that she was inconvenient to disturb, she left silently.Outside Xiaotupo is the west gate of Yingzhou City.Jixue sits down in a teahouse, and hears the storyteller talking about a book, and the people below are talking about what happened last night.

It's hard to say, and there are different opinions.But Jixue still understood—what happened last night was done by ghost assassins.She clicked her tongue lightly and shook her head.Put down the tea money and walk on the street.

The streets are still as bustling as ever, as if nothing had happened.Jixue glanced casually and saw many officers and soldiers running on the street, holding a stack of thick papers in their hands.

After inquiring, I found out that the ghost clan invaded the Central Plains, and the imperial court conscripted troops to resist, and what the officers and soldiers held was the revelation of conscription.It's a pity that women can't join the army, and it's at a loss to think about it.Jixue sighed.

Back to the rented hut, Li Bai has already returned.

"A Nian, I want to join the army." Li Bai's expression was determined.

"What are you kidding? Miss Li Bai, women are not allowed to serve in the army. This is the iron law." Jixue said.

"Then I'll disguise myself as a man." Li Bai said.

"Why do you have to join the army?" Jixue asked.

"My family and country are in turmoil, and my relatives have passed away. I don't want to live in comfort anymore." Li Bai replied.

"Then Miss Li Bai, do you know martial arts? Can you handle a sword?" Jixue continued to ask.

Li Bai seemed to be choked.She doesn't know martial arts, and she can't even lift a sword.She seemed to be useless like this.

"I'll go for you." Jixue said suddenly.Li Bai raised her head again, she had already changed into a man's clothes that she got from no one knew where.Jixue's facial features didn't look weak, on the contrary, she exuded a heroic spirit, she was really not inferior to a man.

Li Bai didn't know what to say.But Jixue went on to say: "After I leave, you go to Xiuyuanmen to find the head of Qin, and he will take you in."

Li Bai was really stunned - it turned out that Anian had already arranged everything for her.After a long time, she squeezed out a sentence: "A Nian, thank you."

Clouds float outside the window, and the corners of the eaves are low.Li Bai knew that it was a world she propped up for her.

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⑴From Xin Qiji's "Partridge Sky: Jackdaws Are Sorrowful in the Evening Sun"