"Back to Longxi, as soon as it gets light we can take a shower, then wear comfortable clothes and eat hot soup on the streets of Longxi city."
"Are you crazy? I don't want to go to Longxi, I still left my bundle at the inn, besides that there are still my Xiao Tao and Xiao Qian. Put me down." I was wrapped in the blanket like a silkworm, but tried to sit up straight so I could argue with him.
"Later your bundle will be delivered. Right now I'm in a hurry, I don't have time to fight with you. If you don't obey, I'll have to hit you until you faint. Do you choose, do you want to faint or wake up?"
His tone was as cold as ice, as hard as stone, he wasn't joking at all. After being silent for a while, I decided to find another way out, "If I'm not comfortable like this, I want to take my hand out."
"I feel very comfortable, even if your arms are tied in a blanket, if you feel comfortable, I feel uncomfortable."
“Huo Qubing, you shameless stinky pervert thief.”
....................
"Did you hear that? I called you an obscene thief, besides that you are also a...... bastard...... rotten fish......" I racked my brain and let out all the curses I had heard in Chang'an city streets.
....................
If you curse and punch the wall, the wall will not react and in the end you will be the one who gets tired. I was very tired and leaned obediently in his arms.
The horse's trot slowed down. "I'll change horses." Before he finished his words, he had jumped onto another horse while carrying me.
Astonished, I asked, "Did you also change horses like this when you came?"
"Yes".
"Then you're tired, aren't you? Even new horses are tired."
"When chasing the Xiongnu, not closing your eyes for two or three days on horseback is normal, chasing you is much more relaxing than chasing the Xiongnu."
"How did you hear the news so quickly?"
"Don't forget, now you are still in Han territory, there are many army bases around Hexi. Uncle Chen sent people to deliver the letter you wrote very quickly, it was in my hands that night. But it will take a little time to find your trace, if no, do you need three days?"
"Damn it! It turns out Hong Gu doesn't obey me."
"He didn't curse at you, but you still have the face to curse at him? A general who suddenly runs away while leading an army can be sentenced to death."
"I'm tired," I stubbornly changed the topic.
"Sleep for a while. Tomorrow you will be able to make up for your lack of sleep." As he spoke, he shifted so that my leaning position was more comfortable.
"Like this, it's not good. I can't sleep."
"You're not too tired, if you're really tired, you can sleep while racing the horse."
"Can you sleep like this?" "Yes".
"Now you're not going to sleep?" "Will not".
"That's good then, it's okay if you fall yourself, but don't get me hurt."
"Sleep in peace!" His tone was bland, containing no annoyance or anger.
I snorted. Even though I was shaken hard, I was able to sleep with occasional awakenings. The night was still pitch black, but we had arrived at Longxi.
After throwing me onto a rug, without saying anything Huo Qubing left with a cold face. Ay! He's still angry!
My body ached, but I couldn't feel sorry for myself and immediately looked for a way to escape, the most important thing was to escape from Huo Qubing's supervision, as long as I could enter the desert, I would be like a grain of sand in the sea of sand, no matter what whoever he is, he won't be able to find me.
I rolled on the floor and with great difficulty managed to get my hands out of the rolled blanket, then untied the rope wrapped around my waist. Carrying the blanket, I searched the whole room, but it seemed like there wasn't a single piece of clothing that I could wear, no wonder he dared to leave me here just like that.
While I was studying the room while hopping around like a rabbit, Huo Qubing opened the curtain and came in, it seemed like he had just showered and had changed clothes, he was still wearing black, but the dark color he wore made him look dashing and extraordinary. handsome.
Is this person made of iron? Round trip from Longxi to Jingzhou but not looking tired at all, I looked at him sharply and asked, "Are you going to give me a change of clothes or not?"
He threw the bundle in his hand onto the bench, then turned and went out without another word.
Why is a man's long robe black? Even the white cloth that binds the chest is available, I thought irritably, but it turns out he was full of understanding.
Even though I didn't want to wear them, it was better to have clothes to wear than nothing at all, so I helplessly sighed, then started to wear them.
This was my first time wearing men's clothing, but I managed to wear it properly. After wearing the leather belt, I twirled around with self-satisfaction, I felt like I looked dashing.
Huo Qubing, who had just lifted the curtain, laughed mockingly, "Click your hair first before you become handsome!" At that time I realized that my hair was still loose.
Although I can make beautiful braids, but I have never worn a men's hairstyle, after trying for a while, I still couldn't make it. A sinister smile appeared on Huo Qubing's lips, who had been sitting behind me and watching me, angrily hitting his reflection in the mirror with a comb. I didn't dare hit the person, so hitting his shadow was enough to vent my anger.
Suddenly, he snatched the comb from my grasp, I was just about to ask why he snatched my comb, but he already grabbed my hair and untied the high bun I had made, then gently and slowly, he combed my hair.
When I saw our reflection in the mirror, I didn't realize it, the scene I saw seemed familiar to me. Many years ago, a man who really loved me once combed my hair with
carefully and taught me to make braids. My nose felt sore, tears suddenly came to my eyes, I quickly looked down, looked at the floor, I let it tie my hair up, then tied it with a headband decorated with jasper stones.
"There's still a little time, I'll take you for a walk in Longxi and have something to eat." After finishing speaking blandly, without waiting for my approval, he got up and walked outside.
"Is the army cook's cooking not delicious?"
"My cook is considered one of the best cooks in the palace, but your favorite Xiyu specialty is not his specialty."
I had only walked a few steps, but suddenly grabbed his arm, "Is Li Gan in this base?"
Huo Qubing stared at me sharply for a while, "Nothing." I felt relieved and let go of his arm.
"Exactly what sin have you committed against Li Gan?"
I firmly answered, "Nothing. What sin can I commit?"
Huo Qubing's eyes swept over my face for a while, he no longer wondered. While walking, I secretly memorized the situation in the base. Huo Qubing said carelessly, "You're so excited, you better think about what you want to eat. If I can't find you tomorrow morning after waking up, I will order all the soldiers under my command to change their rations to wolf meat, and urge all country in Xiyu to treat the Han troops with wolf meat".
I furiously said, "Try it if you dare!" He said blandly, "You try it."
I looked at him hatefully, but he smiled indifferently, then stepped forward. I didn't move, angrily looking at his back, the distance between us was getting farther and farther, but he didn't look away at all, but his steps slowed down a little.
It was dawn, the spring breeze was blowing gently, the sunlight was warm, but the figures in black clothes walking among them looked out of place amidst the spring scenery, making the atmosphere gloomy.
My heart softened a little, I ran after him, even though I heard the sound of my footsteps, he who was still wearing black clothes didn't look away, but in the blink of an eye his figure melted into the warm spring sunlight.
Even though I'm half a head shorter than Huo Qubing, I'm taller than most people on the street. They praise us as elegant gentlemen, perhaps because my smiling face contrasts with Huo Qubing's cold face.
women fixated on me. Smiling, I greeted their gazes, the old women looked at me kindly, while the young women shyly avoided my eyes.
Along the way, I felt very happy. While the people of Chang'an are open, the people of Xiyu are brave and straightforward. When a flower girl put peach blossoms in my arms, the passersby laughed, and one guy even said jokingly, "What flowers bloom in the third month? Apricots and peach blossoms bloom in the third month, the girls compete to give gifts peach blossom".
I was just about to cover my smile with my hand, but suddenly realized that I was pretending to be a man, so I quickly straightened my body and leaned towards the flower girl while holding the peach blossom.
The cold-faced Huo Qubing threw a few pieces of silver worth enough to buy a few peach trees at the flower girl, but she looked at him in annoyance and returned the money to him, "Who wants your money? I'm giving it to this young master. ".
Perhaps it was Huo Qubing's first time meeting someone who returned his money in annoyance, the crowd on the street cheered, "Looking at young master's attire, it seems like young master has come
from Chang'an? You look down on us Xiyu people too much."
The person who had been singing again sang a funny song, "What flowers bloom in the fourth month? In the fourth month the lotus flowers bloom, the lotus flowers bloom and their fragrance can be smelled everywhere, the little girl likes people, not money."
Everyone laughed out loud, the flower girl looked at the singer with embarrassment and annoyance, I saluted the flower girl again with a smile, then pulled Huo Qubing and quickly left.
After passing several houses, I found a clean shop, so I pulled Huo Qubing to the front of the shop. While smiling, I said to the noodle seller who was over forty years old, "Please jiejie make two bowls of fish noodles." He was stunned for a while, looked around him, then decided that he was the one who was being called, he smiled like a blooming flower and looked ten years younger.
I gave the peach blossoms in my hand to my sister while praying that her merchandise today would be as busy as those vibrant flowers.
With a smile, she accepted the flower, then stuck it in her bun, "When I was young, I liked wearing peach blossoms as hairpins the most, it's been a long time
"No one ever gave me flowers and I haven't worn a hairpin for a long time."
After finishing eating, Huo Qubing's silver money had not decreased yet because the noodle seller said, "I match this little sister, these two bowls of noodles were a gift from jiejie."
Since leaving the base, Huo Qubing had faced a wall along the way and never said anything, but now he suddenly shook his head and smiled, "I didn't know you were good at eating for free." While smiling with self-satisfaction I looked at him.
"You are very good at disguising yourself as a man, your way of walking is not at all like a woman, I can put you in the base without worry as my personal bodyguard."
"Hah! You be a little more careful. If you make me angry I will turn into a murderer," I said half-jokingly.
"Is Longxi exciting?" "It's really fun."
"If it's fun then we didn't come in vain. Don't be angry anymore, okay?"
Somewhat helplessly I said, "I have legs, if I want to leave I will eventually leave, how long can you hold me?"
After being silent for a while he said, "Until you give up and choose not to go, or until I do
despair, maybe I will set you free at that time." I was about to speak but he said again, "But maybe I won't set you free."
Irritatedly I stomped my feet, suddenly I flung my sleeves and covered my face, along the way I ignored him again.
A Hu whose face was full of dust was selling knives on the side of the road, the place was far from the busy streets, very quiet, he didn't even shout out to offer his wares, he just stood guard in front of his stall, so his business was even quieter.
Actually, I had passed him, but my eyes were attracted by the toys in his stall, I immediately turned around and walked towards him.
When he saw me looking at his knives, without saying anything he put several knives that he thought were good in front of me. I took a knife that had a unique shape, after picking it up and looking at it carefully, it turned out that the knife was exactly the same as my toy knife as a child. "Where did you get this knife?"
Haltingly, the Hu man gave an explanation in Han, the outline of which was that he bought it from someone else, and that someone else bought it from someone else.
I sighed softly, many years ago, in the midst of the chaos at that time, I don't know which guard smuggled the knife out of the palace, and after that
over the years who knows how many times he changed hands, "I want this knife, how much does it cost?"
The Hu man pointed at the knife in my hand, then pointed at the knives in his stall, he stammered and said, "This knife is not good, this knife is good."
I turned to Huo Qubing, he threw a piece of gold at the Hu person, the Hu person's face looked anxious, he quickly said, "Too much."
I said, "That knife costs a lot more, save the money!"
Ordinary people, if they look at this knife, will see that even though it has a unique shape and beautiful decoration, the blade is not sharp, as if it is only for use by women, they don't know that the cost of making this knife is very expensive. At that time, the Xiongnu crown prince specially invited the best masters from all over Xiyu as well as the Northern Desert and the Southern Desert. After much effort, he was only able to make this knife.
I opened a device embedded in the handle of the knife while thinking about what happened to me last night, I looked up at Huo Qubing, then shouted loudly, "Let's see if you will have a chance to molest me!" I lifted the knife and stabbed it into my own heart.
The Hu person next to me shouted in surprise, in the blink of an eye Huo Qubing's face turned white, he frantically pulled me, but he was too late.
one step, the entire blade of the knife had entered my chest, it only had time to greet my body which was hanging limp.
I looked at him while squinting, at first I still wanted to pretend to tease him, but his hands, even his whole body was shaking, and I didn't expect this to make my heart ache.
I immediately stood up straight, while giggling, I pulled out the knife, then pressed the tip of the knife hard with my hand, the entire blade was pulled into the handle of the knife, "Are you stupid? "You've never killed anyone. If a knife pierces your chest, how come there isn't a drop of blood flowing?"
For a few moments he looked at me in astonishment, then suddenly roared, “I'm such a fool!” He flung his sleeves, then left with wide strides.
I quickly chased him, "Don't be angry, just now my naughty nature appeared and I wanted to joke with you."
Huo Qubing didn't say anything, just continued walking quickly. I kept sticking to his side and kept apologizing, but he didn't pay any attention to me.
If he didn't panic because he was worried about me, with his experience on the battlefield, how could he not know that I was joking? I thought again of his pale face earlier and felt guilty, with
I said softly, "I know you're not angry because I joked with you, you're angry because I risked my own life to joke, what if the knife doesn't work the way I want it to?" I took a deep breath, “This knife was a gift from a good friend when I was little, I used it to scare A Die, how could I not recognize it? Inside the knife handle there is a device that can produce fake blood. When the blade is pulled, blood will flow out, just like real blood. Just now, when I saw this knife, my mind was full of childhood memories and my character at that time, who liked to do trouble, emerged. I can't believe that after all these years, I can buy back my childhood toys.”
Perhaps because it was the first time he heard me bring up my past, Huo Qubing's face became much more relaxed, "You have a father?"
I played with the knife in my hand, "When I was born I immediately became like this? Of course I had a father who taught me.”
Huo Qubing was silent for a while, then said indifferently, “Whether you have a father or not is the same.”
Of course he was thinking about his biological father, Huo Zhongru. Many years ago, Huo Zhongru had an affair with Wei Shaoer so that he was born, but Huo Zhongru did not want to marry Wei Shaoer and married someone else, therefore Huo Qubing never had a father, until Wei Zifu became
The empress, Liu Che, just married Wei Shaoer to Chen Zhang, so she became Mrs. Chen and Huo Qubing also had a stepfather. As soon as I thought about this, I immediately changed the subject and talked aimlessly about various things that had nothing to do with the matter, about how long it took to forge the knife, about how the gem that decorated the knife was my favorite gem, until The gloomy expression on his face disappeared, my heart just felt relieved.
After returning to base, he asked me, “Do you want to go back to sleep?”
I shook my head, "I'm not tired now, I don't want to sleep."
He took me to the horse stables, then ordered a soldier around fifteen years old to bring a horse, "Even though Li Cheng is still young, his horse riding skills are very good, learn to ride a horse with him as soon as possible."
I frowned, "I don't want to." He frowned and looked at me without saying anything.
The sound of drums was thunderous, but he still looked at me without saying anything, I didn't avoid his eyes at all. The sound of the drums gradually became faster, suddenly he took a deep breath, then without saying anything got on the horse and rode on.
I looked at Li Cheng in confusion, “Why did he run away?”
LI Cheng was surprised because I was at the army headquarters, but I didn't even understand the meaning of the sound of the drums, "The general wants to inspect the army ranks! I think in three or four days the troops will leave to attack the Xiongnu.”
I wrinkled my nose, then flung my sleeves, about to leave, but Li Cheng quickly stopped me, “The general ordered me to teach you horse riding.”
"I don't want to study." While talking I turned around him and continued walking, but Li Cheng grabbed my arm tightly, "You have to be willing to learn, if you don't study I can't complete the task the general gave me."
I rolled my eyes, "If you can't complete the task, so what? What does that have to do with me?”
Because of anxiety, beads of sweat appeared on the tip of Li Cheng's nose, "If I can't complete the task, the general's impression of me will be bad, and I won't be able to quickly go to the battlefield and kill the Xiongnu."
I snorted, wanted to shake his hand off, but didn't realize it, his hand strength was strong, I used four parts of my strength but apparently still couldn't break free.
With a worried face, Li Cheng pleaded, “Why can't you ride a horse? The Xiongnu are all very fierce, if you can't ride a horse, if something unexpected happens you will be in great danger, and it will be a burden on the entire army.”
My heart gasped, my hand which had just been about to hit his neck immediately stopped moving, if something really happened, the first person to be burdened would be Huo Qubing, "You're still young, why don't you help your parents at home, why are you running to the headquarters? soldier?"
Li Cheng's face immediately changed, his eyes looked a little wet, but his voice was cold and hard like the edge of a sword, "Last autumn, the Xiongnu entered Yanmen Guan and caused trouble, father, mother and older brother were all killed by the Xiongnu."
I was silent for a while, then patted his shoulder, “Xiao shifu, let's learn horse riding. But remember, you can't be impatient with me, you can't laugh at me, and even more so you can't call me stupid, otherwise, watch out for my fists.”
Rubbing his eyes, Li Cheng nodded with a smile.
I trained from early morning until it got dark, except when I took a break at lunch, I continuously jumped on and off the horse's back…….