那人消失，空氣似乎也鬆弛起來，有了氣流波動。
季玖知道他離開，心裡並不輕鬆，反倒是緊張而無奈。那是一種對局勢無法掌控的無奈，他居高位已久，慣了掌握權勢，最忌諱的就是對現狀的不知所以。這場突如其來的劫難，于心於身都是一種折磨。
季玖僵硬的等了一會，確定那人徹底離開，才緩身站了起來，起身時晃了晃，似乎有些不穩。站定了，臉上卻是面無表情，只低頭望著地上那攤鮮血，暗紅血跡是恥辱的顏色，他的目光淩厲而兇狠，宛若刀鋒。非君非親，卻屈膝而跪，俯身叩首，只為乞求。對季玖而言，這是從未有過的事，有生之年，都不曾想過會有這樣卑微的一天。
心裡的恨意如洪水滔天。卻又始終夾雜著一股無能為力。除了這樣，他還能怎樣？對上這樣一個非人的怪物，他沒有選擇餘地，僅有的辦法，無非選擇最容易的方式解決。
如今那人走了，雖走，卻並未答應他。季玖轉過身，滿臉血污的看著屋外豔陽，不知道這件事究竟結束沒有。他想，最好是結束了。
若沒有結束，又當如何？季玖無可避免的想到這一點，卻想不出對策來，只好看著門外陽光絢爛，遍體生寒。
連續的羞辱與自尊的對抗，季玖當夜終是病了。躺在榻上，冷汗連綿不絕，簌簌自汗孔溢出，季玖裹著被子，渾身濕透，卻牙關發顫，一陣陣的打擺子。
郎中大夫來了好幾個，也沒有看出毛病來，只開了些安神的方子，湯藥喂下去卻沒效果，季玖清醒的很，安神之藥對他毫無用處，烏黑的眸子始終是睜著的，瞪著屋頂，家人急得團團轉，不知這病是為何而來，去問他，他卻仿佛什麼都沒聽見，兀自遊神。那請來的僧人見他額上白布，倒是猜到幾分，卻承諾與人，不可洩露風聲。只好閉口不言，無論季玖家人如何逼迫，只合手念佛。最後夫人抱著兩歲幼女來了，將那軟綿綿嬌嫩嫩的小丫頭往季玖身上一放，走到一邊看著女兒在夫君身上爬來爬去，也不出聲阻撓。
那丫頭嘴角掛著涎水，不明所以的望瞭望娘親，又看了會父親，呆了片刻，就伸著小胖手去抓季玖的臉，嘴裡咕噥著聽不清的童言，抓了季玖額頭白絹，又抓他鼻子，扒拉了幾下，季玖滿頭大汗的轉過神來，直勾勾地望著胸前女兒，小女亦望著他，突地咧嘴一笑，涎水滴在季玖臉上。季玖終是扯出了一抹笑容來。
這場突如其來病，就這樣突然的好了。
夫人松了口氣，此後在一旁端茶倒水不提，卻也不刻意過問夫君這場病的來由，雖是婦道人家，卻進退有度，頗有風範。
不過病了三五天光景，季玖就瘦了一圈，且多了些怪癖，首先便是再不入那間居室。那曾是迎娶嫁娘時的洞房，夫人便是在那裡，從少女蛻變成少婦，轉眼這些年，這房屋細心佈置，器具用品無一不熟稔，在房中閉著眼都可行走無礙。膝下一子一女，也是這床上所誕。季玖卻命人將那房屋鎖上。
夫人心中驚詫且不舍，到底也沒說什麼，其實是知道，夫君心裡必定有事，且是不能提的事，既然不能提，那就鎖了吧。
一把銅鎖將那門扉徹底關閉，窗戶也都用木條封死，動靜不小，卻因季玖是家主，也無人敢上來問詢一句。況且是官宦人家，即使是下人們也都是經過調理，什麼當說什麼不當說，心裡跟明鏡似的，闔家上下幾十張嘴，都閉得嚴嚴實實，連私下議論都不敢。
季玖養了兩日，就恢復了精氣神，臉色又重新紅潤起來。這日閑來無事，在院中抱著小女吟書，他坐在石凳上，握著書冊，一手攬著小女，正念到《諫逐客書》“泰山不讓土壤，故能成其大；河海不擇細流，故能就其深；王者不卻眾庶，故能明其德……”小女在他懷裡臥著，乖巧地聽著，雖是聽不懂卻也覺得爹爹念得好聽。他的聲音輕柔，神態溫謙，仿佛低聲呢喃，卻又字字清晰，氣定神閑的吟書聲仿佛豔陽天的一縷清風，自河畔而來，帶著霧水之氣，攜著草木清香，泌入心脾。
他吟得忘情，眉眼溫潤含笑，卻不知樹下陰影中，始終有一人目不轉睛的看著他，宛若時光回溯，倒退至一百五十多年前，那世沈清軒懷中攬著小寶，倚在涼亭裡吟書的光景，那時的他，則在這吟書聲裡愜意的消磨時光。許是終於失去，方知曾有過的美景良辰。
伊墨垂下眼，盤膝倚著樹杆坐下，靠著院中那株百年老槐，只聽著那熟悉聲音的聲聲吟誦，再不去看他一眼。不能看，看不得。
季玖念了一會，察覺懷中沒了動靜，低頭一看，小女已經合上眼簾睡了，鼻翼微微張動，睡得分外香甜，拇指含在口中，時不時咂一咂，稚拙無比的模樣，季玖失笑，放了書冊，將她口中手指輕輕摘了，小女夢裡少了東西，不安慰的皺了皺眉，垂下嘴角似是要哭，季玖正欲哄，她卻到底抵不過睡夢的誘惑，又睡著了。
父女正在寧馨間，下人卻跑來稟報，宮裡張公公到了。
季玖招來丫頭，將孩子遞過去，連忙走出內院。他此番回家，述職之外便是探親，不過一月時光，就要重回軍中，與將士們日夜相守。回來後進宮幾次，皆是快去快回，近兩年邊疆並無大事，南方狄蠻於五年前徹底降服，只剩北疆匈奴。匈奴兵勇猛果敢，擅騎射，其技精快狠准，實在是朝中心腹大患，只是三年前有北方游商傳回消息，道那匈奴人內部起了紛爭，兩大家族互相鬥毆起來，便顧不上再來犯邊境，季玖潛探子去打探過，證明消息屬實，是以北疆太平幾年。
這太平不過是暫時的，季玖知道，軍中將士知道，朝中大臣知道，天子更是知道。
季玖換了官服，隨張太監入宮，禦書房裡只有兩人，一人身著明黃長袍，正面朝架上北疆地形圖，另一人一身青色儒衫，手中掂著一把摺扇，側對著季玖，季玖來時，他們正喁喁低語。
季玖跪下叩首：“微臣參見皇上。”
天子頷首微笑，走到他面前道：“季玖。”那聲音很是溫醇，卻帶了威嚴，季玖低著頭，道：“在。”
皇帝讓他起身，問：“季老將軍最近身體如何了？”
季玖答：“家父身體健朗，微臣返家前，他還與故友一起飲了酒，席中僅泡餅就吃了兩張。”
皇帝笑了一聲，說好的很。
季玖知道這不過是正事前的鋪墊，便立在一旁，等皇帝開口。
不料皇帝卻遲遲不提正事，只與他寒暄，問家中事，軍中事，募兵之事，練兵之事，又突然轉了話題，繞回他家中，譬如季玖長子功課之類。季玖一一作答，只是心中揣測不定。
好一會，皇帝才拿起案上一份奏章遞了過去：“這是一份緊急軍情，你看看。”
季玖愣了下，雙手接過，打開細閱，越看臉上神色就越凝重起來，周圍氣氛似乎也隨著這份奏章的展開而凝滯。皇帝始終觀察著他的神情，那青衫人也在一旁站著，貌似眼觀鼻鼻觀心，實則將屋中所有細微之處都攬入眼底。
終於，季玖合上奏章，深深吸了口氣，道：“季家三代忠良，子孫皆在軍中效力，從未發生過克扣軍餉之事，還請聖上明察。”
皇帝高深莫測地笑著，從他手中拿了奏摺來，放到一邊，似是隨手一棄，道：“我怎會懷疑你？”這話說得，實在是逾越了他們之間現在的身份。
季玖怔了怔，下意識地看向一旁的青衫客，見那人似是什麼都不曾聽見般鎮定自若，心裡緊了一下，季玖默不作聲。
皇帝望著自己幼時的伴讀，臉上仍是高深莫測的，頓了頓，道：“不要在京停留了，明日返回軍中吧。”
季玖自進門，這才是第一次抬起眼來，正視著眼前帝王。皇帝愈發成熟，眉眼也陰沉許多，再不是少年時那個陰鬱卻尚能親近的落勢皇子，而是真正的天下君王。季玖知道，從他們季家合力扶持這位不起眼的皇子到登基為帝開始，他從原先的伴讀，已經回歸了他的臣子。
季玖重新跪下，低聲道：“微臣告退。”
一抬眼間，卻見那龍袍腰間的墜玉晃了一下，一隻緋紅九頭龜的玉墜。五年前他首次為將，率領兩萬部眾揮師南下，平定了南蠻，班師回京後，也是在這禦書房，皇帝笑容是真摯的，隨手拿了龍案上的獅頭鎮紙送他，那時他還年少輕狂，雖知不妥，卻也摘了腰間佩玉送過去。正是緋玉雕成的九頭龜。
季玖不知他是刻意在今天佩上它，還是其他。但他寧願，眼前威嚴日益深重的帝王，只是突然心血來潮，佩了那玉飾。
季玖退去，身後皇帝一直看著他的背影消失在視野裡，頓了頓，才重新看回那張軍事圖，看了片刻，突然開口道：“你覺得此人如何？”
青衫客噙著笑，答道：“陛下，君子如蓮。”
皇帝又沉默，“我若用他掃蕩匈奴，如何？”
“陛下，”那人遲疑了一下，道：“季將軍天生將才。”
“哦？”
“五年前他以兩萬兵士，遠走蠻荒之地，翻山越嶺，跨河渡海，直逼敵方心口，一戰而成名。卻無人細想過，北方兵卒如何克服南方氣候，又如何一路追尋敵方蹤跡，不被敵將所布迷障而誘惑，直搗老巢，這一仗，全倚仗將領的決斷，何去何從，必須算無遺策，才能成此奇功，若一步走錯，兩萬士兵和將領們都將困絕而亡。季將軍首次領兵出戰，就大勝而歸。若是派他出兵匈奴，定不會有負所托。”
皇帝一直看著那地形圖，這時才轉過臉來，“既是如此，愛卿剛剛為何遲疑？”
“陛下，”那人苦笑了一下，方才道：“臣只是想，陛下是想讓他成為出生入死戰功卓著的將軍……還是……將他留在身邊。”
皇帝心思被一語道出，卻也不露喜怒，只看著那人片刻，仍是從容的，問：“若朕既要他為朕平定天下，又要他留在朕身邊呢？”
“君子如蓮。”那人跪下，低聲道：“或折下待萎後棄之，或任其展露風華。”
皇帝靜了片刻，道：“退下吧。”
季玖騎了馬，匆匆離宮，到了街市時無意中一瞥，看見了拐角走出的一人，由遠及近，做道士打扮，白髮童顏，有幾分仙風道骨，心中一動，季玖勒緊馬韁，身下馬兒輕嘶一聲停了蹄，這聲馬嘶引起了那道人的注意，他原只是出來採買，不曾注意路人，此番抬頭，與季玖打了個照面，兩人俱是一驚。
道人驚得喊出聲：“沈清軒！”
季玖驚的是他眼中那見到久別故人方有的驚愕與狂喜。季玖非常確定不曾見過這道人，但這道人雖喊得是陌生的名字，眼神卻是直直地看著自己，沒有一絲認錯人的影子。
季玖腦中極快的一轉，低頭看了眼自己手腕，那蛇吻般的胎記上多了一圈牙印，心中跳了一下，季玖不願意回想起那件事，重新抬頭，要和那道人說話，才發現面前已經無人了。
季玖在高頭大馬上朝遠看，那道人在巷子裡瘋了般狂奔的背影，哪裡還有一點剛剛仙風道骨的模樣，只是他跑了幾步，一晃已經奔出很遠了，季玖就知道，這道人是真有術法在身的。可惜，人已經不見了。
季玖暗歎一聲，策馬回府。
那道人正是許明世，他使了術法一路狂奔，奔到一家客棧前上了樓，猛地推開客房的一扇門，沖著正坐在窗前觀望的青年人大喊一聲：“我找到你爹了！”
青年人登時站起身：“當真？”
“當真，眉眼一模一樣，決不會弄錯。快走快走，他騎馬的沒我們快。現在追上還來得及。”說著許明世就要走，跨出門欄了，才發現背後人動都未動，只是在那處站著，似是在想些什麼。
“怎麼不追？”他狐疑地問。
“你去打探打探，他現在是何人，年歲幾何，可有家室，可有官職，打探清楚了再來報我。”沈玨靜靜道：“還不快去！”
許明世頓了頓，立時遵命跑的沒影了。只是心裡哀歎年輕時氣血方剛，殺了人家父母，現在倒好，這狼崽子學的跟沈清軒一模一樣，滿肚子算盤也不知道究竟作何打算，這恩怨，何時才能了結呢？現在完全拿他當傭人使喚了。
又忍不住埋怨伊墨，做什麼把小狼崽子丟下自己去尋沈清軒，結果倒連累他受苦。
許明世腹誹歸腹誹，卻一點辦法也沒有，老老實實為他人奔波。
其實也是為難他了，伊墨去尋沈清軒，沈玨非要跟，伊墨又是我行我素的性子，帶他在身邊百年已經是極限，再說到底沒有血緣，這樣跟著自己身邊到底算什麼呢？沈清軒是希望小寶自己獨立的，所以某個晚上，伊墨就丟下他自己走了。沈玨孤身一人，終究是惹了禍，與一孤山上老鬼鬥上了，那鬼物也是千年修行，小狼不過百年而已，高低立顯，小狼受了重傷，幾乎斃命。還是伊墨聞訊而來，救他一命，雖是活了卻一直昏迷不醒。伊墨又花了二十年光陰，去南海靈山守著一株仙蕊，花開時采下，喂給了他。守了幾天知道他快醒了，也知道自己耽誤了沈清軒轉世的時辰，喚來許明世看護小寶，自己才離山繼續去尋沈清軒。
父子二人就此走散，沈玨醒來後知道自己誤了事，也沒臉去找伊墨，只能拽著許明世，去尋爹爹轉世。
現在爹爹找到了，父親一定也在附近了，沈玨滿心羞愧的想著，若是因為替自己療傷而耽誤的二十年，讓他們失去了這世的機緣，他做什麼，才能彌補回來？
若彌補不回來，他有何臉面去見父親？
沈玨只能默默祈求這份機緣仍在，卻也是明白的，二十年光陰呢，尋常人家哪一個不是娶妻生子了呢？況且他爹爹此世是大貴之人，恐怕，來不及了吧。抬眼望瞭望窗外，窗外陽光正是好著，偶有微風拂面。沈玨心中陰霾也揮散了些，不管怎樣，他找到爹爹了。
這樣想著，他臉上露出了一絲笑容來。笑容清潮，純真無邪，宛若幼時那個偎在爹爹懷裡撒嬌的孩童。
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When that person disappeared, the air seemed to relax and there were air current fluctuations.
Ji Jiu knew that he was leaving, but he was not relieved. Instead, he felt nervous and helpless. It was a kind of helplessness that he could not control the situation. He had been in a high position for a long time and was used to holding power. The most taboo thing was not knowing the current situation. This sudden disaster was a torture for both his mind and body .
Ji Jiu waited stiffly for a while, and only stood up slowly after making sure that the man had completely left. He staggered as he stood up, and seemed a little unstable. He stood still, but his face was expressionless, and he only looked down at the pool of blood on the ground. The dark red blood was the color of shame, and his eyes were sharp and fierce, like a knife. He was not a king or a relative, but he knelt down, bowed his head, just to beg. For Ji Jiu, this was something he had never experienced before. In his lifetime, he had never thought that there would be such a humble day.
The hatred in his heart was like a flood. But he was also helpless. What else could he do? Facing such an inhuman monster, he had no choice but to choose the easiest way to solve it.
Now that person has left, but he did not agree to his request. Ji Jiu turned around, looking at the bright sun outside the house with a bloodstained face, wondering if this matter was over. He thought, it would be better if it was over.
What if it doesn’t end? Ji Jiu couldn’t help but think of this, but he couldn’t think of a solution. He could only look at the bright sunlight outside the door, feeling cold all over.
After continuous humiliation and the confrontation with his self-esteem, Ji Jiu finally fell ill that night. Lying on the couch , cold sweat continued to pour out of his pores. Ji Jiu was wrapped in a quilt, soaking wet, but his teeth were trembling and he was shaking.
Several doctors came, but they couldn’t find out what was wrong with him. They just prescribed some tranquilizing prescriptions. However, the decoctions had no effect. Ji Jiu was very awake, and the tranquilizing medicine was useless to him. His dark eyes were always open, staring at the roof. His family was very anxious, not knowing why he got sick. When they asked him, he seemed to hear nothing and was still in a trance. The monk who was invited saw the white cloth on his forehead and guessed something, but promised to not let anyone know. He had no choice but to keep silent. No matter how Ji Jiu’s family forced him, he just clasped his hands and chanted Buddha’s name. Finally, the lady came with her two-year-old daughter in her arms. She put the soft and tender little girl on Ji Jiu’s body, walked aside and watched her daughter crawling on her husband, without saying a word to stop her.
The girl drooled at the corners of her mouth. She looked at her mother and her father in confusion. After a moment’s silence, she stretched out her chubby hands to grab Ji Jiu’s face, mumbling inaudible childish words, grabbing the white silk on Ji Jiu’s forehead, and then grabbing his nose, scratching it a few times. Ji Jiu came to his senses with sweat all over his forehead, staring at his daughter in front of him. The little girl also looked at him, suddenly grinned, and drool dripped on Ji Jiu’s face. Ji Jiu finally forced a smile.
This sudden illness healed so suddenly.
The lady breathed a sigh of relief, and from then on just stood by and served tea and water, but she did not deliberately ask about the cause of her husband’s illness. Although she was a woman, she knew when to act and how to retreat, and was quite graceful.
However, after being ill for three or five days, Ji Jiu lost weight and developed some strange habits. First of all, he would never enter that room again. It was the bridal chamber when the bride was married. It was there that the wife transformed from a girl to a young woman. In the blink of an eye, over the years, this room was carefully decorated, and all the utensils and supplies were familiar to her. She could walk around in the room with her eyes closed. She had a son and a daughter, who were also born in this bed . Ji Jiu ordered people to lock the room.
The lady was surprised and reluctant, but she didn’t say anything. In fact, she knew that her husband must have something on his mind, and it was something that could not be mentioned. Since it could not be mentioned, she decided to lock it up.
A copper lock completely closed the door, and the windows were sealed with wooden bars. There was quite a lot of noise, but because Ji Jiu was the head of the family, no one dared to come up and ask a question. Moreover, it was an official family, and even the servants had been trained to know what to say and what not to say. Their minds were as clear as a mirror. Dozens of mouths in the family were all tightly shut, and they didn’t even dare to discuss privately.
After two days of rest, Ji Jiu regained his energy and spirit, and his face became rosy again. He had nothing to do that day, so he was reciting a book in the yard while holding his little daughter. He sat on a stone bench, holding the book in one hand and holding his little daughter in the other. He was reading the “Remonstrance against Expelling Foreigners" “Taishan does not reject soil, so it can become big; rivers and seas do not choose small streams, so they can become deep; kings do not reject the common people, so they can show their virtue…" The little girl lay in his arms, listening obediently. Although she did not understand, she thought her father read well. His voice was soft and his expression was gentle, as if he was whispering, but every word was clear. The calm and leisurely reciting sound was like a breeze on a sunny day, coming from the riverside, carrying the mist and the fragrance of grass and trees, penetrating into the heart.
He was so absorbed in reciting poems that his eyes were soft and smiling, but he didn’t know that there was always someone staring at him in the shadow under the tree, as if time had gone back to more than 150 years ago, when Shen Qingxuan was holding Xiaobao in his arms and reading in the pavilion. At that time, he was spending his time comfortably in the sound of reading . Perhaps it is only when we finally lose it that we realize the beautiful scenery and good times we once had.
Yi Mo lowered his eyes, sat cross-legged against the tree trunk, leaning against the century-old locust tree in the yard, just listening to the familiar voice chanting, and never looked at him again. Can’t look at him, can’t look at him.
Ji Jiu recited for a while and noticed that there was no movement in his arms. He looked down and found that the little girl had closed her eyes and fell asleep, her nostrils slightly open, she was sleeping very sweetly, with her thumb in her mouth, smacking her thumb from time to time , looking very childish. Ji Jiu laughed, put down the book, and gently took the finger out of her mouth. The little girl felt that something was missing in her dream, and she frowned uncomfortably, with her mouth drooping as if she was about to cry. Ji Jiu was about to coax her, but she couldn’t resist the temptation of sleep and fell asleep again.
The father and daughter were just enjoying themselves when a servant came running to report that Eunuch Zhang from the palace had arrived.
Ji Jiu called the maid, handed the child to her, and hurried out of the inner courtyard. This time he went home, in addition to reporting on his work, he also visited his relatives. However, in a month, he would return to the army and stay with the soldiers day and night. After returning, he went to the palace several times, and he went and came back quickly. There have been no major events on the border in the past two years. The Di barbarians in the south were completely subdued five years ago, and only the Huns in the north were left. The Huns were brave and courageous, good at riding and shooting, and their skills were fast and accurate . They were really a big threat to the court. However, three years ago, a northern merchant sent back news that the Huns had an internal dispute and the two major families were fighting each other, so they could not take care of invading the border again. Ji Jiu sent a spy to investigate and proved that the news was true, so the northern border had been peaceful for several years.
This peace is only temporary. Ji Jiu knows it, the soldiers in the army know it, the ministers in the court know it, and the emperor knows it even more.
Ji Jiu changed into his official uniform and followed Eunuch Zhang into the palace. There were only two people in the imperial study. One of them was wearing a bright yellow robe and facing the northern border topographic map. The other was wearing a green Confucian shirt and holding a folding fan in his hand. He was facing Ji Jiu sideways. When Ji Jiu came, they were whispering.
Ji Jiu knelt down and kowtowed: “Your humble servant pays respect to His Majesty."
The emperor nodded and smiled, then walked up to him and said, “Ji Jiu." The voice was very gentle, yet majestic. Ji Jiu lowered his head and said, “Here."
The emperor asked him to stand up and asked, “How is General Ji’s health recently?"
Ji Jiu replied: “My father is in good health. Before I returned home, he drank with his old friends and ate two steamed buns."
The emperor laughed and said it was a good idea.
Ji Jiu knew that this was just a prelude to the real thing, so he stood aside and waited for the emperor to speak.
Unexpectedly, the emperor did not bring up the serious business, but only exchanged pleasantries with him, asking about family affairs, military affairs, recruiting soldiers, and training soldiers. He suddenly changed the topic and went back to his family, such as Ji Jiu’s eldest son’s homework. Ji Jiu answered one by one, but he was still guessing in his heart.
After a while, the emperor picked up a memorial from the table and handed it over: “This is an urgent military intelligence, take a look."
Ji Jiu was stunned for a moment, then took it with both hands and opened it to read carefully. The more he read, the more solemn his expression became. The atmosphere around him seemed to stagnate as the memorial unfolded. The emperor was always observing his expression, and the man in green was standing by, seemingly observing his nose and heart, but in fact he took in all the subtle details in the room.
Finally, Ji Jiu closed the memorial, took a deep breath, and said, “The Ji family has been loyal for three generations, and all of their descendants have served in the army. There has never been a case of withholding military pay. Your Majesty, please look into this matter."
The emperor smiled mysteriously, took the memorial from his hand, put it aside, as if throwing it away casually , and said, “How could I doubt you?" These words really exceeded their current status.
Ji Jiu was stunned and subconsciously looked at the man in green clothes beside him. Seeing that the man was calm and composed as if he had not heard anything, his heart tightened for a moment and Ji Jiu remained silent .
The emperor looked at his childhood companion, his face still mysterious, paused, and said: “Don’t stay in Beijing, return to the army tomorrow."
This was the first time that Ji Jiu raised his eyes and looked at the emperor in front of him since he entered the door. The emperor had become more mature, and his eyebrows and eyes were much gloomier. He was no longer the gloomy but approachable prince in his youth, but a true king of the world. Ji Jiu knew that since their Ji family had worked together to support this inconspicuous prince until he ascended the throne, he had returned from being his companion to his subject.
Ji Jiu knelt down again and whispered, “I will take my leave."
the jade pendant on the dragon robe swinging. It was a nine-headed turtle jade pendant. Five years ago, he was a general for the first time. He led 20,000 troops to the south and pacified the southern barbarians. After returning to the capital, it was also in this imperial study that the emperor smiled sincerely and took the lion head paperweight on the dragon table to give to him. At that time, he was still young and frivolous. Although he knew it was inappropriate, he took off the jade pendant on his waist and gave it to him. It was a nine-headed turtle carved from scarlet jade.
Ji Jiu didn’t know whether he wore it on purpose today or for other reasons. But he would rather the emperor, whose majesty was becoming more and more serious, wore the jade ornament on a whim.
Ji Jiu retreated, and the emperor behind him kept watching his back disappear from his sight. He paused, then looked back at the military map. After a moment, he suddenly asked, “What do you think of this man?"
The man in green shirt smiled and replied, “Your Majesty, a gentleman is like a lotus."
The emperor was silent again, “What if I use him to wipe out the Xiongnu?"
“Your Majesty," the man hesitated for a moment and said, “General Ji is a natural born general."
“oh?"
“Five years ago, he led 20,000 soldiers to a remote and untamed land, crossed mountains and ridges, crossed rivers and seas, and went straight to the heart of the enemy, becoming famous in one battle. However, no one has ever thought about how the northern soldiers overcame the southern climate, how they followed the enemy’s trail all the way, and how they did not fall for the traps set by the enemy generals and went straight to the enemy’s lair. This battle was entirely dependent on the general’s decision. He had to make a perfect plan of where to go in order to achieve such a great feat. If he made a wrong move, the 20,000 soldiers and generals would be trapped and die. General Ji won a great victory in his first battle. If he is sent to fight the Xiongnu, he will definitely not let you down."
The emperor had been looking at the topographic map, and only then did he turn around and ask, “If that’s the case, why did you hesitate just now, my dear?"
“Your Majesty," the man smiled bitterly and said, “I just wonder if Your Majesty wants him to become a general who has fought bravely and made outstanding achievements… or… to keep him by your side."
The emperor’s thoughts were revealed, but he showed no joy or anger. He just looked at the man for a moment, still calmly, and asked: “What if I want him to pacify the world for me, but also want him to stay by my side?"
“A gentleman is like a lotus." The man knelt down and whispered, “You can either pick it and discard it after it withers , or let it bloom and bloom."
The emperor was silent for a moment and said, “Step back."
Ji Jiu rode his horse and left the palace in a hurry. When he arrived at the street market, he accidentally glanced and saw a man walking out from the corner. He was approaching from afar. He was dressed as a Taoist priest, with white hair and a childlike face, and had a somewhat immortal air. With an idea in his mind, Ji Jiu tightened the reins of the horse . The horse under him neighed softly and stopped. The neighing caught the attention of the Taoist priest. He had just come out to buy something and had not paid attention to passers-by. When he looked up this time, he met Ji Jiu’s face, and they were both startled.
The Taoist was so shocked that he shouted, “Shen Qingxuan!"
Ji Jiu was surprised by the surprise and ecstasy in his eyes that only appeared when he saw an old friend after a long absence. Ji Jiu was very sure that he had never seen this Taoist before, but although the Taoist called out a strange name, his eyes were looking straight at him, without a trace of mistaking him for someone else.
Ji Jiu’s mind raced, he looked down at his wrist, and saw a circle of teeth marks on the snake-like birthmark. His heart skipped a beat. Ji Jiu didn’t want to think about that incident, so he looked up again and wanted to talk to the Taoist, only to find that there was no one in front of him.
Ji Jiu was riding on his horse and looking far away. The Taoist was running like crazy in the alley. He no longer looked like a sage just now. He just ran a few steps and ran far away. Ji Jiu knew that the Taoist really had some magic. Unfortunately, he was gone.
Ji Jiu sighed and rode back home.
The Taoist was Xu Mingshi. He used magic to run all the way to an inn, went upstairs, pushed open a door of a guest room, and shouted to the young man who was sitting by the window and watching: “I found your father!"
The young man stood up immediately: “Really?"
“Really? Their eyes and eyebrows are exactly the same, there’s no way we can make a mistake. Let’s go faster, he can’t ride as fast as us. There’s still time to catch up with him now." Xu Mingshi was about to leave when he stepped out of the door, only to find that the person behind him didn’t move at all, just stood there, as if thinking about something.
“Why don’t you chase her?" he asked suspiciously.
“Go and find out who he is now, how old he is, whether he has a family, and whether he holds an official position. Report to me when you have found out everything." Shen Jue said quietly, “Why don’t you go now!"
Xu Mingshi paused, then immediately obeyed the order and ran away. He just lamented in his heart that when he was young, he was full of vigor and killed someone’s parents. Now, this wolf cub has learned exactly the same as Shen Qingxuan, and he has a lot of plans in his mind. When will this grudge be settled? Now he is completely treated as a servant.
He couldn’t help but blame Yi Mo for leaving the little wolf cub behind and going to find Shen Qingxuan, which ended up causing him to suffer.
Although Xu Mingshi was dissatisfied in his heart, he had no choice but to work hard for others.
In fact, it was also difficult for him. Yi Mo went to find Shen Qingxuan, but Shen Jue insisted on following him. Yi Mo was a person who did what he wanted. It was already the limit to keep him by his side for a hundred years. Besides, there was no blood relationship, so what was the point of following him like this? Shen Qingxuan hoped that Xiaobao would be independent, so one night, Yi Mo left him alone and left. Shen Jue was alone, and he got into trouble after all. He fought with an old ghost on a lonely mountain. That ghost had also practiced for a thousand years, while Xiaolang had only been a hundred years old. The difference was obvious, and Xiaolang was seriously injured and almost died. It was Yi Mo who heard the news and came to save his life. Although he was alive, he was still in a coma. Yi Mo spent another twenty years guarding a fairy stamen in Lingshan, Nanhai , and picked it when it bloomed and fed it to him. After guarding for a few days, he knew that he was about to wake up, and he also knew that he had delayed the time of Shen Qingxuan’s reincarnation. He called Xu Mingshi to take care of Xiaobao, and then he left the mountain to continue looking for Shen Qingxuan.
The father and son were separated. When Shen Jue woke up, he realized that he had missed something and was too embarrassed to look for Yi Mo. He could only drag Xu Mingshi to find his father’s reincarnation.
Now that his father has been found, his father must be nearby as well. Shen Jue thought with a feeling of shame, if the twenty years he had wasted healing his injuries had caused them to lose their chance in this life , what could he do to make up for it?
If he can’t make amends, how can he face his father?
Shen Jue could only pray silently that this opportunity would still exist, but he also understood that twenty years was a long time, and most ordinary people would have married and had children. Besides, his father was a noble man in this world, so it might be too late. He looked out the window, where the sun was shining brightly, with an occasional breeze blowing on his face. The haze in Shen Jue’s heart also dissipated a little, no matter what, he had found his father.
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on his face. The smile was pure and innocent, just like the child who snuggled in his father’s arms and acted like a spoiled child.
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