Jiuxi

Chapter 236 234 [See the sky at dawn and the clouds at dusk]

Baotai Mountain, the headquarters of the Seven Star Gang.

"Miss……"

The maid Ning Cui looked at the food on the table, which she only touched with a few chopsticks, and couldn't help but look with concern at Lin Xi, who was sitting by the window, lost in thought.

Most members of the Seven Star Gang live in the mountains. This is actually a small society. For a big man like Lin Jie, who is the leader of the gang and ranks first in the martial arts rankings, no one dares to criticize his favorite daughter even if she is spoiled. .

But Lin Xi didn't actually enjoy a luxurious life. He only had one maid, Ning Cui, by his side, and the two of them had a very close relationship as sisters. After Lin Xi became successful in his studies, he often worked outside. Ning Cui's life in the mountains was very leisurely, and she still received a monthly amount of money from Lin Jie every month.

In this case, her care for Lin Xi is naturally genuine.

"What's wrong?" Lin Xi turned around and asked.

Ning Cui came closer and saw the pieces of letter paper placed on the case at a glance, and sighed secretly in her heart.

This letter was sent more than half a month ago. It should be a personal letter from Lieutenant Lu from the south. Lin Xi has read it many times in the past few days. Although he does not have very negative emotions, it will always be like today. He was in a daze, obviously having deep thoughts.

Thinking of this, Ning Cui said softly: "Miss, have you had a bad appetite recently? How about I ask the kitchen to change the taste?"

"sit down."

Lin Xi pointed to the chair next to him and said with gentle eyes: "No need to bother the people in the kitchen. I just haven't had an appetite these days, so it's okay."

Ning Cui said cautiously: "Miss, did something happen in the south?"

Lin Xi smiled knowingly and said: "It seems that you are very curious about the content of this letter. It's hard for you to hold it in for so long."

Ning Cui did not deny it, but smiled slightly embarrassedly.

Lin Xi said: "Since you want to know, I will tell you. This letter was sent by my junior brother. It is also the first letter he wrote to me after he went south. In the letter, he wrote some things that happened after returning to Nan Qi. things, and the Huaizhou border army is preparing to start the Northern Expedition. Calculating the time, he should be leading troops on the battlefield right now. "

Ning Cui blinked, not quite understanding why such a normal letter could affect her emotions.

Lin Xi naturally understood what she was thinking and explained: "I must be happy for him knowing that he returned to Huaizhou safely and that all his affairs were going smoothly. However, he also mentioned one thing in the letter——"

She suddenly cut off her words, and even though she was sure that the girl in front of her would never reveal the news to anyone, she still warned, "You can't tell anyone about this."

Ning Cui nodded seriously and said, "Don't worry, miss, I'm not the kind of person who talks too much."

Lin Xi said, "Junior brother said in the letter that someone wants to marry the Lu family."

"what?"

Ning Cui opened her mouth with a look of shock on her face.

Lin Xi looked at her cute and innocent look and couldn't help but laugh: "What a strange expression you are looking at. Junior brother has become famous now. There must be many people who want him to become Chenglong's son-in-law. What's weird about coming to ask about the marriage?"

"Oh, right."

Ning Cui patted her forehead lightly, and then asked quickly: "Miss, Mr. Lu immediately rejected the other party, right?"

The news that Lu Chen and Lin Xi were engaged was known to everyone in the mountains, and the young and old men of the Seven Star Gang all regarded the young man from Southern Qi as one of their own.

In Ning Cui's simple world view, since the two were engaged, Lu Chen would naturally reject other people's marriage proposals.

However, Lin Xi did not speak.

Ning Cui stared at her blankly, her thick eyebrows gradually raised, and she said in disbelief: "Miss, didn't Mr. Lu refuse? How could he do this!"

"Don't worry."

Lin Xi could still remain calm.

Ning Cui stamped her feet and said: "Oh, my eldest lady, how can we not rush this matter? Although you and Mr. Lu were engaged, the elders of the Lu family did not know about it at the time, and they did not sign a marriage contract. They only made a verbal commitment. If he ends up with another woman in the south, what will you do in the future?"

Lin Xi shook his head, raised his hand and put it on her shoulder, comforting her: "Things are not as bad as you think." The junior brother said in the letter that the person who proposed the marriage was the Zhai Lin Wang family, and the woman was the niece of Wang An, the head of the Wang family. , she can be regarded as the legitimate daughter of a famous family."

"Miss, who is the Wang family?"

"The Zhai Lin Wang family was one of the top aristocratic families in the Qi Dynasty, or it is not much different now. The Wang An I just mentioned is now the prime minister of the Yan Kingdom."

"Prime Minister...Prime Minister?"

Ning Cui couldn't help but have a look of astonishment. No matter how innocent and naive she was, she still knew what the word prime minister meant. It was the pinnacle of power that people outside the royal family could reach in this era. In addition, Lin Xi mentioned Zhai Lin Wang's heritage, she suddenly understood the source of Lin Xi's abnormal behavior recently.

That's an embroidery thrown by the prime minister's family. How can ordinary people refuse? Although Master Lu doesn't look like an ordinary person, he is still just a young general after all.

Ning Cui reacted suddenly, stared at Lin Xi and said: "Miss, isn't the Yan State opposed to the Qi Dynasty? You just said that Mr. Lu is planning the Northern Expedition after returning. The two sides are fighting for life and death. How can this marriage happen?"

Lin Xi turned his eyes to one side and said softly: "Junior brother said that the Wang family could not bear the complicit relationship between Yan and Jing Dynasty and wanted to return to the embrace of Nan Qi. This marriage is their sincerity. Let the legitimate daughter of the Wang family marry junior brother. This will help After confirming the fact that the Wang family and Nan Qi are secretly connected, the Wang family does not dare to be half-hearted and can only act as an internal agent for Nan Qi. Otherwise, once this matter is exposed, the powerful people in Yan and Jing will kill the Wang family."

Ning Cui could only barely understand what Lin Xi said about the changes in the world, but it was very important for Lu Chen that she could understand.

But she didn't want to think about it so much, so she stood up and said, "No matter how important this matter is, Miss, you are the wife Mr. Lu is marrying!"

"Sit down and don't mess around."

How could Lin Xi not know what she wanted to do? It was just to go to her father to inform her. He immediately took Ning Cui's hand and asked her to sit down without any explanation, and then said: "The surrender of the Wang family is very important to Nan Qi, and it is important to the Huaizhou border." The military is very important, and it is also very important to Junior Brother himself. You don’t understand what the words Zhai Lin Wang mean. Junior Brother is a person with great ambitions. If he can get the unremitting help from the Wang family, many things can be solved."

Ning Cui listened blankly, and after a moment she said anxiously and sadly: "Miss, you are too generous. Can you allow this kind of thing?"

"Silly girl, do you really think I'm the kind of heartless person? Why should I pretend to be generous in this kind of thing? Even though the Miss Wang family is the legitimate daughter of a famous family, I, Lin Xi, will not be timid .”

"Then why does the young lady want to speak for her?"

"Of course I'm not speaking for her."

Lin Xi shook his head slightly and explained: "Junior brother, he is one of the best among men, and his future is limitless. He will definitely have a big family in the future. I don't want to stay in the back house all day long and compete with other women, let alone accompany those in the mansions of powerful people. The ladies talked and laughed hypocritically, but I prefer to travel around the mountains and rivers to see the scenery of the world and solve some injustices in the world. But, which wife of a wealthy family stays outside all day? "

Ning Cui's expression was changing. At this moment, her mind was filled with twists and turns. The things before her were too complicated, and her little head was even a little dizzy.

After thinking for a long time, she said firmly: "Miss, Mr. Lu will definitely not agree with your idea!"

Lin Xi asked curiously: "You haven't read this letter, why are you so sure?"

Ning Cui wrinkled the tip of her nose and said, "Anyway, Mr. Lu in my impression would never be able to do such a thing!"

"You have full confidence in him."

Lin Xi raised his hand and gently scratched her nose, and then said gently: "Junior brother said that due to various considerations, he could not directly reject the Wang family's sincerity. However, he begged me to believe in his sincerity, no matter what the situation is in the future. Despite the changes, my status in his heart and in the Lu family will not be shaken at all."

Ning Cui breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Let me tell you, Mr. Lu is definitely not that kind of person!" Lin Xi couldn't help laughing and said: "Okay, okay, you are the smartest."

The two laughed for a while, and then gradually became quiet. Lin Xi said again: "Dad told me that he and his junior brother had an honest conversation and would never allow other women to affect my identity. Junior brother also made a solemn promise to me. But Cui'er, I really don't want to be the wife of Lao Shizi, because I don't want to be confined in a boudoir all my life."

Ning Cui said in a dilemma: "Miss, you have to know that there is a big difference between a concubine and a concubine. In the future, your child..."

Lin Xi raised his hand to cover his forehead and said helplessly: "Okay, let's not talk about this."

At this moment, someone asked outside and said, "Miss, the gang leader invites you to go to the Juyi Hall to discuss matters."

"Understood, I'll go now."

Lin Xi responded, and repeatedly told Ning Cui to remember to keep it secret, then walked out of the courtyard and headed towards the Juyi Hall in the east.

The high-level officials had gathered in the hall. Lin Jie, who was sitting in the main seat, looked at Lin Xi who was saluting with a smile. He looked to the side and said, "Xi'er, sit down and talk."

"Yes, Daddy."

Lin Xi had just sat down when he heard Qi Lianfu, the master of the Yin Hall opposite, say: "According to the information obtained by the brothers, Southern Qi has raised the banner of the Northern Expedition not long ago. Brother Lu personally led three thousand soldiers to attack Yongquan Pass on a snowy night, and then We easily recaptured Tongshan City, and our troops pointed directly at the heart of Yan State's Dongyang Road."

"it is good!"

The cheers rang out loudly, especially those young generals of the Seven Star Army who followed Lu Chen to defeat the Yanjing coalition, their faces were filled with pride and pride.

Dong Mian, the leader of the Shantang Hall, took advantage of the situation and said: "Gang leader, now that the Qi army is overwhelming, Yan State's Dongyang Road must have too much to take care of. Can we go out of the mountain and go south, and take this opportunity to take a bite of meat on the back of Dongyang Road? This will not only expand our The territory can also echo the Qi army and help the Lu brothers."

The eyes of Yu Dajun, Chu Zhu, Lou Chengyuan and others immediately lit up.

Lin Jie smiled warmly, turned to look at Lin Xi and said, "Xier, what do you think?"

Lin Xi cleared his throat and said calmly: "Dad, junior brother sent someone to deliver a letter more than half a month ago, mentioning this matter. Junior brother's suggestion is that we can prepare the army for war, and You can go to the south to show your face appropriately, but you must not rashly initiate a battle with the Yan army."

The young and strong generals wanted to make a noise, but after Lin Xi told Lu Chen's words, they sat quietly.

Lin Jie looked around, taking in everyone's reactions, and couldn't help feeling a little emotional.

The older generation in the gang still followed his lead, but after the baptism of war, the attitude of those young people towards Lu Chen was obviously different. This shows Lu Chen's influence on them, not to mention that Lu Chen still maintains outstanding performance on the battlefield. No wonder Yu Dajun and others are so in awe.

Dong Mian and Qi Lianfu looked at each other and saw that everyone else was silent, so they asked: "Miss, did Brother Lu mention the reason?"

Lin Xi nodded and said: "Junior brother said that it is freezing in the mountains at this time, so our survival is not easy. Using weapons rashly may hurt ourselves. Moreover, we must be prepared for the enemy to surprise us, so it is better to be safe. "

She hid a reason and did not explain it to everyone.

After hearing this, Dong Mian was slightly moved and said with emotion: "Brother Lu is still thoughtful, but this also shows that he regards us as his own."

Qi Lianfu laughed and scolded: "Old Dong, are you asleep? Isn't Brother Lu one of our own?"

Dong Mian suddenly realized that the young man was the fiancé of the eldest lady. It was normal for him to consider the Seven Star Gang, so he apologized and said with a smile: "Gang leader, this subordinate is talking nonsense, please forgive me."

Lin Jie smiled and waved his hands, and was about to end the discussion when he suddenly saw two of Lin Xi's subordinates walking in quickly, one of them holding an envelope in his hand.

Lin Xi suddenly felt nervous.

The two came closer and reported: "Gang leader, Captain Lu has sent someone a secret letter, specifying that it should be given to the eldest lady."

Lin Jie nodded slightly, and Lin Xi took the envelope and opened it gracefully, took out a few folded pieces of letter paper, read it hastily, then handed it to Lin Jie, and said: "Dad, brothers, junior brother hopes that we can update Go further, get closer to Fengqiu City, but still insist on not fighting the enemy."

No one else noticed that Lin Xi clasped the last piece of paper like a ghost, and at the same time her pretty face turned slightly red.

Lin Jie pretended not to notice Lin Xi's little move, read the letter briefly, then nodded and said: "As Lu Chen said, Tao Baochun, Xi Jun, you two will assist Xi'er in arranging this matter."

The two of them accepted the order in unison, and Lin Jie ended the discussion.

Lin Xi walked back to his courtyard alone, his expression calm along the way, but his steps were a little fast.

When she came to the bedroom, she closed the door and took out the last piece of paper from her sleeve.

The first few pictures were all talking about business, but this one was Lu Chen's innermost words written to Lin Xi.

"Sister, long time no see, I miss you so much."

Previously, she didn't dare to look closely in front of everyone, but now Lin Xi was sitting in front of the window looking at this line of words, her eyes full of smiles but she snorted softly.

"Regarding the Zhai Lin Wang family's request for marriage, I originally wanted to use this to control the first family, but I didn't expect the other party to be so decisive. The daughter of the Wang family actually traveled thousands of miles to Huaizhou alone, and now lives in the Dongkuoyuan of our home. "

When Lin Xi saw this, he couldn't help but whisper softly: "Who is your 'our family'?"

"Senior sister, please rest assured that your junior brother, Lingtai Qingming, is as pure as jade and has never made any mistakes. Of course, the Wang family girl is a woman who knows books and respects etiquette, and there has been no inappropriate misunderstanding between us. How to deal with this matter? Don't worry, senior sister, I will find a suitable way."

Lin Xi couldn't help laughing and said, "I'm so shameless."

She deliberately did not read the words related to Wang Chulong. She only felt that the four words "keep oneself as jade" were really lazy.

"After I wrote this letter, the Northern Expedition is about to begin, and I will lead the troops north to fight the enemy. At the moment of the war, I have no time to take care of my children's personal affairs, so I can only put everything aside temporarily, but I will always have the shadow of my senior sister in my heart. Extraordinarily clear and graceful.”

When Lin Xi saw this, the corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he said with a half-smile, "I'm afraid there is also Miss Wang's shadow, right? Junior brother, don't think you can get away with this."

"Sister, just follow the plan for the follow-up arrangements for the war. Only Master and Senior Sister can see that part. As for this piece of paper, if Senior Sister doesn't mind, you can ask Master to review it."

Lin Xi's eyes were filled with sparkles, and she clenched her fists quietly. If Lu Chen were right in front of him, he would probably have to taste the fierce punching skills passed down by the ancestors of the Lin family.

"Recently, I came across a small order that could express my feelings, so I borrowed flowers and presented them to my senior sister. Although they are only a few words, I hope they can comfort your heart."

Behind it was the half-que poem attached by Lu Chen, and Lin Xi couldn't help but murmur: "I told you back in Guangling that I don't know how to read and write, so what if I can't understand it?"

Even so, she still looked back carefully and saw what was written on the paper:

It is planned to drunken the madman, and sing to the wine, Qiang Le is still tasteless. The belt gradually widened and he didn't regret it.

It is true that Lin Xi has not read many poems and songs. The time she spent on martial arts took up most of her childhood. However, the emotions contained in some words in this world do not require deep literary skills.

"The belt is getting wider and wider, but I don't regret it anymore. I feel haggard because of Yi..."

Lin Xi recited these fourteen words, as if he could see Lu Chen's figure thousands of miles away through the handwriting.

For a while, I gradually became a little crazy.

　Hello book friends, today Doumiao has some quiet matters to deal with, so I only have this 5,000-word chapter. In addition, four maps are already being worked on, and you will be able to see them tomorrow night~

　　

　

(End of this chapter)