Chapter 54 A Dream Return
Ouyang Zhong returned to an essential and busy job; he not only had to deal with the affairs of the army but also needed to settle the exiled people who had entered Zongcheng City first. It was already late at night after taking care of the distribution of supplies and personnel. This whole day, he was so busy that he only entered a drop of water to accompany Xiao Feifei in the back kitchen courtyard of the County Lord Princess's Mansion to have something to eat.
When people looked at Ouyang Zhong, who was always followed by a crazy and silly woman, the good people were talking behind their backs about who this person was. Because no one in the army had seen the county princess, also thought where to come to a wandering silly girl, little beggar, and so on would have liked to go to the blast to catch up with, the results were Ouyang Zhong stopped.
When everyone learned that this crazy woman was the hall Princess of Jiaoyang County, Ouyang Zhong's wife, the crowd was so surprised that they did not know what to say. For one thing, once the royal aristocrat's daughter was reduced to such a field, really let a person sigh, lament life in the world is unpredictable, nothing is eternal, status, wealth, beauty, and even life may be in the night into nothing. Secondly, since Linghu Xian and the entire Beiwang City sacrificed their lives for justice, we all know that she is a woman and see the fact that she is Ouyang Zhong's sweetheart, so this time, Ouyang Zhong's wife appeared, more or less a little embarrassed more or less a little gossip.
The night was already late. Xiao Fei Fei had been following Ouyang Zhong. Wherever he went, she followed him. Now and then, she would go insane, mentally acting like a child of a few years old. She refused to leave Ouyang Zhong as if she subconsciously knew in her heart that she had to follow this man and that if she followed him, she would be able to eat and be safe.
Ouyang Zhong had no choice but to send her back to her room and coax her to sleep before walking out of the room alone. He sighed and smiled to himself. Back then, when he did not know anything better, Linghu Xian took care of him to make him happy. Now, this caregiver role has become himself. It is a pity that the person he wanted to care for the most is no longer there.
Seeing that the old steward had not yet rested, he brought him outside the small courtyard and softly inquired, "Old Steward, you are also an old man in the house. Was there anything about the county princess that was different from the norm in the past?"
The old steward immediately came to life after the past was brought up: "In my teens, I followed Imperial Concubine Chen, the mother of the Eldest Princess Nanling. I watched the Eldest Princess of Nanling grow, and County Princess Jiaoyang grows, so I've already served three generations of masters.
Speaking of County Princess Jiaoyang, she is indeed a different child. The day she was born coincided with the beginning of summer. The fragrance of flowers was everywhere, especially the peonies on the Princess's residence, which were not yet in full bloom. Still, the peonies all over the courtyard bloomed in a flash when the little Princess was born, and the whole Princess's residence could smell the fragrance.
Since birth, the Little Princess has had a faint floral scent, just like the peonies that bloomed that day. The emperor's son-in-law doesn't know that the county princess used to be pretty and cute when she was small, and as long as she had eyes, she would love the little county princess from the bottom of her heart when she looked at her.
The emperor's son-in-law forgives the old enslaved person for talking too much. The old enslaved person knows that you have had some problems with the eldest Princess before, and the county princess is also unfamiliar with it. The two of you have just gotten married, and you're always away from each other. When you get in touch with the Princess more, you can find her suitable. She has no relatives now, and the old enslaved person is getting old. I am afraid that the body of the old enslaved person will not live long at all, not capable of moving to Nandu City with the army. I only think I can serve the little county princess one day, if one day the old slave hand to death also please, extra horse harnessed by the side of a team, you more to take care of, take care of our county princess. The old enslaved person will kowtow to you here first!" The old housekeeper was about to kneel and kowtow to Ouyang Zhong, whimpering and crying.
Ouyang Zhong hurriedly assisted the old housekeeper. He saw this old housekeeper was also a loyal and respectful servant who valued love and justice. In the future, whether willing or not, he would have to be involved with Xiao Feifei's fate. But more importantly, he affirmed the inference in his heart that Xiao Feifei was afraid that she was also not an unusual, ordinary person. As for whether it was a demon or an immortal, he could not yet know or judge. By bringing it to his side, he could at least observe it for a while, and if there was any movement, he could make an immediate decision.
At first, outside the firewall, he wanted to rush in with Linghu Xian's martyrdom and the same death; the two are bitter lovebirds. But the voice from the sky told him, "Your mission in this life is not yet complete. You are not yet finished in this life robbery."
Ouyang Zhong thought to himself, it's hard to believe that he is not an average person, so will he also have any unusual skills? In the future, he will have to ask his parents and parents to find some clues. But what he, Ouyang Zhong, wished for the most was that he could have superb abilities like Linghu Xian before he could protect the people who needed protection. He once again remembered Wei Kongji's suggestion; some indescribable thoughts were rushing around in his heart; he soothed the old housekeeper and returned to the Ouyang Family Mansion's small courtyard where he used to live first.
Ouyang Zhong lay in the former Linghu Xian's small house that night. He still missed her. Under the gently blowing moonlight, he took out the peach kernel whistle, a familiar tune that brought Ouyang Zhong back to the burning fire above the grassland.
Unconsciously, Ouyang Zhong entered a dreamlike state. He did not know whether he was asleep or awake, but everything in front of him was so unreal, but also indeed in front of him.
In the distance, a young girl was running freely and happily in the golden grassland; she was wearing a moonlight-white dress, with her long black and thick hair floating in the wind, singing a song while flying a kite. The kite kept going up and down in the sky with the wind. Suddenly, the kite line broke, and the kite shakily floated down from the sky, falling right into Ouyang Zhong's hand. He looked at the kite in his hand, raised his eyes to see the young girl smile, and stood before him. When Ouyang Zhong finally saw clearly who she was, tears filled his eyes. He choked up so much that he could not say anything, only let the tears, like broken beads in general, be the hand of the kite wet. He looked at the girl with deep affection - the girl he had longed for, the lover who would always live in his heart.
The maiden smiled and said to him, "Chong, don't be sad, don't worry, we will meet again in the future. There will be a noble person to help you fulfill your mission, and you will surely become a great person. Remember me, my name is Fox Xiaoxian; I will wait for you to complete this life satisfactorily and wait for you at the place where the fire burns out."
Ouyang Zhong tried to grab the girl's shoulders, yet he couldn't touch Fox Xiao Xian's body no matter how much he reached forward. Tears blurred his eyes and also blurred Fox Xiao Xian's figure. Ouyang Zhong stood in a vast golden wheat field, and an abundant warm current surged in his chest. At this moment, the dragon pearl in Ouyang Zhong's body began to awaken.
"Fox Xiaoxian!" Ouyang Zhong gently called her name in his dream.
When he opened his eyes, the sky was already white; Ouyang Zhong got up and walked out of the small courtyard as if he had been reborn. A force rises from the bottom of his heart, like this rising sun, firmly and powerfully rising slowly, illuminating the earth, warming the four directions, bringing hope to all things.
On the same night, Xiao Feifei slept uneasily.
In her dream, she returned to her mother's mansion, where she was born, grew up, and married.
She changed back to how she was when she was two or three years old, and her mother, Eldest Princess Xiao Wushuang, held her little hand as she enjoyed the flowers and played in the garden. At that time, her mother was beautiful and gentle, always smiling and looking at her. She snuggled in her mother's arms and pampered herself while her mother gently stroked her hair while softly humming nursery rhymes to lull her to sleep.
The distant Altair star, the bright river maiden.
Her delicate hands pull out the veil, and she works the loom.
All day long, I can't write a chapter, sobbing and sniffling as if it were rain;
The river is clear and shallow; how far away is it?
The river is clear and shallow; how far away are we?
Then she dreamed of the light Huo Taoist, dreamed that he was a colossal copper furnace in front of the magic alchemy; she watched the light Huo, a few still alive court ladies and attendants tied up and thrown into the copper furnace. Those people, even "help," two words without time to shout out, were drowned by the ghostly and demonic purple and black liquid in the copper furnace.
Then she saw her mother, the Eldest Princess of Nanling, Xiao Wushuang, wearing a gorgeous robe with a train that reached the ground, wearing a yellow gold gaiter on her head, elegant and luxurious. Still, her eyes were staring straight at the copper furnace before her. Daoist Guang Hui constantly led from the side with his voice:
"Come on! Come ah! Xiao Wushuang, Eldest Princess? If you go further and jump into this big furnace, you'll live forever. You'll stay young forever! Hahahahahaha~ Come on! Come on!"
"Can't jump! Can't jump! Mother! Mother, look at me. I'm Faye! I am your daughter. Mother, you mustn't go~"Xiao Feifei struggled and tried to pull her mother's hand, but no matter what she shouted, her mother seemed indifferent, and she felt as if her body couldn't move under the pressure of a huge stone. She watched as her mother, after a burst of wild laughter, leaped into the alchemy furnace.
In an instant, Xiao Fei Fei's hands were covered in blood as she held an exquisite box containing the "Immortal Elixir of Immortality," which was still freshly baked with drops of blood. She picked it up and saw that the elixir had turned into a human eye staring at her.
"Ah!"
Xiao Feifei woke up in a cold sweat, shouting. She had not recovered her senses from the nightmare. She cowered inside the quilt, shivering, crying, and screaming in fear. The old steward who lived in the same courtyard rushed out, not caring about the difference between master and servant, and hurriedly pulled the county princess out from under the quilt, coaxing and persuading her.
Xiao Feifei's eyes widened as she looked at the old steward. She stammered and spat out a few words: "Mother—mother—mother—mother --." Then she rolled her eyes and fainted.
The old housekeeper was terrified and rushed to smooth out the qi, pinch the middle of the body, and keep calling out to the county princess. But Xiao Feifei couldn't wake up. The night before, Ouyang Zhong arranged for some department officers and soldiers to live in the Sheriff's residence. The old housekeeper rushed out and shouted for help; a few passing officers and soldiers heard the sound of the past and knew that the matter was not trivial; some people rushed to go to Ouyang Zhong's residence to look for him.
Ouyang Zhong happened to get up and was about to leave the gate of Ouyang's residence today to prepare for things that were still full:
Opening the city gates to welcome the refugees and troops led by General Wei Kongji into the city.
Temporarily housing hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Zongcheng City to recuperate.
Discussing with several generals and officials where to go next.
But just then, Xiao Feifei was in a similar situation again.
Ouyang Zhong thought about it. He and Xiao Feifei, no matter how emotionally unavailable, are always husband and wife in front of outsiders, and Xiao Feifei has some oddities he can not ignore. Therefore, Ouyang Zhong hurriedly made some arrangements with his subordinates and then rode his horse to visit Xiao Feifei at the County Lord's Mansion.
Xiao Feifei was still unconscious in her nightmare. Beads of sweat coalesced on her forehead; she was crying and shouting, and she was frowning in pain.
Ouyang Zhong looked at her appearance and remembered that Xuan Mo had once written him a few spells and prescriptions, which he still remembers, so Ouyang Zhong discarded the people beside him and said he would accompany the county princess alone. The others undoubtedly had him and very sensibly rushed to leave some peace and quiet for the other young couple.
Ouyang Zhong took out the short sword he was wearing; this is the weapon Xuan Mo gave Linghu Xian, a heavenly weapon that comes with immortal law. Ouyang Zhong's mouth silently recited the mantra and used the short sword to cut through Xiao Feifei's palm; ghostly purple blood flowed smoothly. The color of this blood, Ouyang Zhong had seen it before. When Guang Hui's arm, which he chopped off, flowed with this color of blood, and those whom the demonic poison had poisoned, the blood in their bodies was also this color. Could it be that Xiao Feifei couldn't resist the demonic poison, just that it didn't show up as quickly and obviously as those people did? Could it be that she is also going to become Yu Sun's puppet?
Ouyang Zhong held his breath and raised his spirit, gripping the short sword in his hand, ready to chop Xiao Feifei's head at any time to prevent her from transforming into a demon.
Strange things did happen. After Xiao Feifei's palm was cut, blood flowed out, but not a single drop fell to the ground. The purple blood turned into a misty purple fog, gradually revealing the shape of a person in front of Ouyang Zhong. Ouyang Zhong fixed his eyes and saw that it was the eldest Princess Xiao Wushuang.
Xiao Wushuang borrowed this method to return her soul. She looked at Ouyang Zhong, slowly opened her mouth, and said, "Ouyang Zhong, what I can't let go of before I die is my daughter Feifei. I still have unfinished business that I must do; I want to catch that old thing, Xiao Tai; I want to make him beg for his life and beg for his death; I also want to catch all the sins that caused the ruin of our family, I want to let them to me! I want them to bury me!"
Ouyang Zhong sneered and said, "I didn't expect you to turn into a ghost after your death. You borrowed your own daughter's body and blood to return your soul, and you even claimed that the person you couldn't bear to let go of was her. Xiao Wushuang, you already have a demon in your heart and resentment in your bones. Even though Guang Hui tricked you into taking the demonic elixir, your improper mind caught the demon's way. I advise you to quickly report to the underworld of the netherworld and enter the six paths of reincarnation as soon as possible so that you may be able to be a human again."
"Hahahahaha! Being a human, I can't be a human anymore. The only ones who ate the demonic elixir and weren't beheaded and gouged out by you guys are Feifei and me. Feifei has a special physique and has her gods and goddesses to protect her. I was kicked out when I couldn't even enter the door of the netherworld. Ouyang Zhong, you aren't special either. No matter how much you once hated me, I ask you to help me and save my daughter! If I can have an afterlife, I will repay your favor even as an ox or a horse."
Ouyang Zhong looked at her, then at Xiao Feifei, who was lying on the bed, getting weaker and weaker with a bloodless face. He nodded and asked, "How do you need me to help you?"
"That peach kernel whistle on you is a magic weapon that can purify the demonic poison attached to my soul, and it can also help Feifei purify her body to restore her sanity. Ouyang Zhong, my corpse was burned in the backyard of the Princess's residence by that old bastard Xiao Zhi, but it wasn't burned clean. They left in such a hurry that they didn't even give me a good ground for my coffin. You help me collect my corpse and bury it properly! But my corpse has to be exposed to the scorching sun for seven days in a coffin made of mahogany before it can be buried so that the demonic poison can be dissipated.
I know that I have committed too many sins in the past and that you don't need to help me, but I won't become your benefit for nothing. Ouyang Zhong, you are the faithful son of the dragon, the dragon ruler in the sky. This is what I know in the netherworld. So, the future of Zhongming Kingdom depends on you. You take care of Feifei; she can help you; please do trust me this time."
Ouyang Zhong stared at her momentarily, took out his peach kernel whistle, and gently hung it on Xiao Feifei's body. The blood person that Xiao Wushuang transformed into quickly disappeared. Before disappearing, Xiao Wushuang said to Ouyang Zhong, "Many thanks!"
The purple blood flowed rapidly, surrounding the peach kernel whistle on Xiao Feifei's chest, spinning faster and faster. The peach kernel whistle shone with a golden light, sucking the surrounding blood into it and spitting it out. The once purple blood gradually turned into a typical bright red, and then the blood returned to Xiao Feifei's body, and she finally recovered and woke up slowly.
Xiao Fei Fei opened her eyes, looked at Ouyang Zhong before her, and then spoke hoarsely, "Ouyang Zhong, thank you. I thank you for your kindness on behalf of my mother, and I also thank you for Fox Xiaoxian for being so kind to her."
Ouyang Zhong, who had always been calm and self-possessed, did not even frown when he saw so many unique and bizarre things just now. Still, because of Xiao Feifei's words, he was astonished, and with an arrow step, he tightly clutched Xiao Feifei's wrist and asked, "Who exactly are you now?"