The town of Longtan was reduced to rubble in the fire. But the people who fled returned one after another to rebuild their homes. The people gathered, and Longtan Town slowly regained its vitality. It's just that the dilapidated city walls and the few passers-by inside and outside the city give people a feeling of depression and desertion, and there is no original prosperity after all.

At this time, an army was stationed outside the city.

This army is 20,000 elites led by Shi Dakai.

After the army set out from Nanjing, it went all the way north, and temporarily rested outside the city when passing through Longtan Town. Shi Dakai sat casually on the ground, holding a military book in both hands, and was reading it carefully. He was focused and engrossed. The surrounding soldiers did not dare to speak loudly, and whispered very quietly.

Suddenly, Shi Dakai put away the book in his hand, looked up and asked, "Why hasn't the scout come back yet?" ”

For scouts, Shi Dakai attaches great importance to them.

Wherever he went, the first person he sent out was the scout. Once the scouts did not return in time, Shi Dakai would immediately strengthen his vigilance. Although he was a reader, he was worried about the scouts, so he asked.

"Lord, in a quarter of an hour, the scout will be back."

The guards beside Shi Dakai counted the time and immediately answered.

Shi Dakai nodded, and continued to bury his head in reading. A quarter of an hour passed quickly, but the scout had not yet returned to report the news. Shi Dakai's expression became serious, but he still waited for another quarter of an hour, but the scout still did not return. He stood up and said in a deep voice, "King Li, send troops to investigate the situation of the scouts." ”

"The last general obeys!"

Li Wangdao responded with a fist clenched, and immediately turned around to give the order.

"Da! Da!! ”

At this time, the sound of horses' hooves beating on the plantain version of a rain came back, and the scout who inquired about the news returned. Li Wangdao stopped and returned to Shi Dakai. After Shi Dakai and the scout approached, he asked in a deep voice, "Why is it a quarter of an hour late?" As for the time, Shi Dakai was very accurate and asked immediately.

The scout replied, "Go back to the prince, because there is the latest news from the Jiangbei camp, so I came back a little late." ”

Shi Dakai said: "What news? ”

The scout replied: "The scouts arranged by the prince around the Jiangbei camp sent back the news that Li Zhen suddenly left the Jiangbei camp with thirteen people. The group headed all the way north, in the direction of Beijing. ”

Shi Dakai frowned and said, "Only this person? And the rest of the soldiers followed? ”

The scout said affirmatively: "Yes, there are only Li Zhen and thirteen retinues. ”

Shi Dakai waved his hand for the soldier to stand back, then sat down and bowed his head in contemplation. Shi Dakai was sure that Li Zhen knew that he had led 20,000 elites here, but Li Zhen left the Jiangbei camp at this critical time, what kind of catharsis was there?

"Li Zhen, Li Zhen, what tricks do you want to play?"

Shi Dakai muttered in a low voice, lost in thought.

It's just that even if he wants to break his head, he can't understand why Li Zhen left? In the end, Shi Dakai could only regard Li Zhen's actions as a trick and did so to scare him. Shi Dakai regained his confident and calm expression, got up and said, "The army is on its way to the camp in Jiangbei." No matter what tricks Li Zhen plays, we will go to the camp in Jiangbei. ”

Li Wangdao arranged it, and the 20,000 elites set off and quickly left Longtan Town.

……

Li Zhen left with Long Xi and others, all of them were one person with two horses, and they were on the road day and night.

Li Zhen and the thirteen guards of the dragon group are all people with martial arts, with excellent physical fitness, and they can ride horses, and the speed of riding horses is simply a wild race. Li Zhen received the order in September and arrived in Beijing on 29 September. When the group arrived at the gate of Beijing, they were all dusty, and their faces were full of tiredness.

Li Zhen slowed down at the gate of the city and slowly advanced.

Long Xi breathed a long sigh of relief, bent his back slightly, and said: "Dashuai, we have been running for about half a month, and we have not had a good night's sleep, and we have finally arrived in Beijing." ”

Li Zhen nodded and said, "Come back after half a year, this time it's really embarrassing." ”

At this moment, Li Zhen and his party are indeed very embarrassed.

Whether it is Li Zhen, or Long Xi and other thirteen guards, all of them have chapped lips, rough cheeks, dark circles, and bloodshot eyes. Not only that, but everyone has new hair growing on the top of their bare heads, but they don't have time to take care of it, and the messy stubble looks very miserable.

"Let's go, let's go into the city!"

Although Li Zhen was very tired, he was in high spirits, raised his horsewhip and rode into the city. The group entered the city, and after a few people at the city gate saw Li Zhen, they also left quickly.

……

Forbidden City, Chuxiu Palace.

After Xianfeng finished handling official business, he came directly to Chuxiu Palace to accompany Cixi. Except for the time when he went to the court and a few times to go to the palace of the rest of the concubines, most of the time he was with Cixi, and the two of them seemed to have endless words. At this time, a eunuch quickly came to Xianfeng's side and whispered something.

"Hahaha......"

Xianfeng laughed heartily, a bright smile on his face.

Cixi asked inexplicably: "Your Majesty, what is the happy event?" You are so happy. ”

Xianfeng let the eunuch leave and said, "Concubine, Li Zhen has returned to Beijing." ”

"Oh, so fast!"

Cixi was surprised and said, "Your Majesty, Li Zhen's return is really long, why are you so happy?" "Because Li Zhen's return is a very ordinary thing, and it's not funny.

However, Xianfeng's gesture made Cixi inexplicably incomprehensible.

Xianfeng explained: "Li Zhen is back, but Han Laiyu has not come back, obviously Li Zhen can't wait to see Zhilan, so he came back day and night." You don't know the situation of Li Zhen now, this Li Zhen, dusty, shabby, tired face, dark circles, bloodshot eyes, and dry lips. It seems that Li Zhen is really thinking about the child in Zhilan's belly, so he can run back tirelessly. ”

Cixi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, Zhilan has not yet given birth, and the time for Li Zhen to come back is just right." At this time, Li Zhen must be inexplicably grateful to the emperor. ”

Xianfeng waved his hand and said, "This is all a good idea of Ai Fei!" ”

After a pause, Xianfeng said: "Lan'er, Li Zhen is now embarrassed, and anyone who sees it can't help but laugh." If Li Zhen returned to Guiliang's mansion, he would definitely wash and rest, and he would not be able to see Li Zhen's appearance at that time. It's better for me to send an order for Li Zhen to come to the palace to meet him immediately, and look at his current appearance. ”

"Really?"

Cixi looked happy, but suddenly shook her head and said, "Your Majesty, forget it." After all, when they meet as husband and wife, if the emperor passes the decree, I am afraid it will be a little untimely. ”

Xianfeng shook his head and said, "Hmph, you must let him come and let him know about my existence." I can give him a great favor, but I can also make him not see Zhilan. Someone came, and it was rumored that Li Zhen immediately entered the palace to meet him. ”

"Wow!"

The voice of the eunuch came from outside the hall, Xianfeng held Cixi's hand and said, "Concubine Ai, you wait and see." This guy is really embarrassed now! ”

Cixi nodded and sat obediently.

ps: I'm too tired to go to work today, there are only two shifts, Rong Xiaodong will take a break and sort out the outline, sorry.