Amid the sound of firecrackers, the people of the capital ushered in a new year.
The Duke of Wei received a bunch of posts, but the Guo family was not ready to entertain guests in the first month, because Mrs. Tai celebrated her fifty-fifth birthday on the sixth day of February, so she would invite relatives and friends to celebrate. Last year, Song Jianing's mouth was bubbling, and she hardly ever visited. This year, she was in good health. She went to several banquets with her mother, met a few friends who could talk to her, and met a few who looked down on her. The stumbling and stumbling between the little girls, happiness is the best, anger is only a momentary anger, go home to eat something delicious and forget it.
To bid farewell to the old and usher in the new, Emperor Xuande made some changes to the officials of the court, and the Imperial Guard also cut a group of disabled veterans. After the Spring Festival, the Imperial Guard began the selection of a new batch of guards. Eighteen-year-old Guo Xiao was successfully selected and became a new guard in the three major battalions of the Imperial Army. He returned three days later with a set of cavalry light armor.
The eldest grandson was promising, and Mrs. Tai was very happy, and happily asked her grandson to put on the armor to show her. Guo Sanfang, the twins, and the three-bedroom, four-year-old Shang Ge'er were all joking aside. Song Jianing sat quietly beside her mother, with a smile on her face, but her mind had gone to her previous life.
When she was brought back to the capital by Guo Xiao from Jiangnan, Guo Xiao was already the deputy commander of the Ma Jundu, a military attache from the third rank, dressed in silver armor, and full of heroism. The military camp was in the suburbs. Guo Xiao often went directly from the military camp to Zhuangzi to find her. Most of the time, he would stay in Zhuangzi. Occasionally, when he had to return to the Guogong’s mansion, he would carry her to the inner room when he entered the door. To be naked.
Thinking of that situation, Song Jianing suddenly couldn't look directly at the young man who was receiving congratulations from everyone. Guo Xiao will no longer question her character in this life. Song Jianing is really willing to be a pair of ordinary step-siblings with him, but whenever some memories of a previous life come to mind and think of the two of them sharing the same bed, Song Jianing will be embarrassed for a moment. , especially not used to being too close to Guo Xiao, try to avoid physical contact.
Just when Song Jianing was distracted, Guo Xiao had already gone to the side room and changed into light armor and came back, wearing a hat, helmet and riding boots. Mrs. Tai smiled and complimented her. Guo Xiao didn't think he was happy to join the Imperial Guard. Now he was only a low-level imperial guard, and when he achieved a high-ranking military position, he would be considered a proud ancestor.
But looking at the proud smiling faces of his grandmother and sister, Guo Xiao's expression was still a little softer than usual. His eyes swept over his stepmother and stepsister. The stepmother smiled softly. Like the three younger sisters, all attention was on his eldest brother.
Guo Xiao pursed his lips, looked away and said to Mrs. Tai, "Grandmother, I'll change clothes first."
Mrs. Tai nodded in relief.
At the same time, a carriage slowly turned to the Qingping Alley where Duke Wei's mansion and King Shou's mansion were located. In the car, the corners of Aunt Tan's mouth were raised, and she was proud that her nephew was enlisted in the Beijing Imperial Army at the age of eighteen. Fifteen-year-old Tan Xiangyu approached the car window and secretly opened a curtain to look out. There was a carriage parked in front of Shouwang's mansion. Looking at the regulations, it should be Shouwang's departure.
Tan Xiangyu looked at the gate of the palace without blinking, full of curiosity about King Shou. Although everyone knew that King Shou was the least favored among princes, he was a prince after all. The biggest powerful person Tan Xiangyu had ever met in his life was his uncle Wei Guo. Gong, I am very much looking forward to being able to admire the demeanor of the son of the dragon and the grandson of the dragon.
"Okay, ready to get off." The carriage was getting slower and slower, Aunt Tan adjusted her dress and reminded her daughter in a low voice.
Tan Xiangyu snorted, and the maid opened the curtain outside. She went down first, then stood on the right side of the car door and waited to help her mother, but her eyes looked expectantly at the Shouwang Mansion opposite. Coincidentally, just when Aunt Tan came out, a figure walked out in a hurry from the main gate of the palace a few dozen steps away. A young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and straight, wearing a jade-white dark-patterned python robe and a jade belt around his waist, just looking at his appearance, he revealed his innate elegance and grace. If you have a feeling of turning his head to the side, he reveals a handsome face like a fairy.
Tan Xiangyu straightened her eyes, her cousin Guo Xiao had outstanding facial features, but her cousin was too cold, so cold that she had the guts to approach her, but Prince Shou looked much more peaceful and more elegant and handsome.
Aunt Tan first saw the strange appearance of her daughter's stupid and blushing face, and then followed her daughter's line of sight to look forward, but only saw a touch of jade blue clothes and the swaying curtain that had just been lowered, waiting for her to get out of the car. , The carriage of King Shou's Mansion has slowly set off, and I don't know where to go.
Aunt Tan watched the carriage go out for a while, and then looked at the appearance of her daughter's first love. Aunt Tan coughed and motioned for her daughter to enter the Guogong Mansion. Lin Shi and others were all in Changxin Courtyard, and it took time for the maids to communicate. Aunt Tan sat in the bright hall by the window, watching the maids bring tea in and then stepped aside. Aunt Tan finally had time to think about her daughter.
In fact, she has always hoped to match her daughter with the nephew of the prince. In the future, the nephew will inherit the title, and her daughter will be the new lady of the country. In this way, the marriage between the Guo and Tan families can be forged from generation to generation. But Aunt Tan knew very well that Mrs. Tai and Guo Boyan looked down on the Tan family, and now there was another stumbling block from the Lin family. It was too difficult for her daughter to marry her nephew.
Change to Shou Wang
King Shou stammered and was not welcomed by the emperor. He didn't even get a decent princess, but no matter what he said, he was a prince. It was because of his own poor conditions that his daughter's identity had the opportunity to become a princess. King Shou has no real power, but his daughter's first life's glory and wealth are in his hands. When they meet each other at ordinary times, even the lady of the country has to salute the princess.
Just, how to catch Shou Wang
With many worries, Guo Xiao and Tingfang brothers and sisters arrived, and Lin also wanted to come over to entertain them, but was persuaded by Guo Xiao. When he arrived at Linyuntang, Guo Xiao directly led his aunt and cousin to his Yihexuan.
Aunt Tan smiled and congratulated her nephew: "Now you are someone who has errands, work hard, and climb up early for meritorious deeds to win glory for the government."
Guo Xiao nodded: "Remember aunt's teachings."
Aunt Tan sent her daughter and niece to walk in the yard. The cousins and sisters were far away. She looked outside and asked her nephew in confusion: "You are eighteen, and now you are famous. Zhang Luo, your marriage?" From Aunt Tan's point of view, the nephew's position as the heir was not secure enough, and it would be serious to get married early and have a son. There were frequent wars in the Zhou and Liao frontiers, and the forbidden army would go to the battlefield at some point in time. If the nephew was in bad shape, the heir would still be able to hold the title, or the Lin family would take advantage of it.
Guo Xiao only thought that his aunt was concerned about his marriage, and said, "Father mentioned it once, but I don't have that thought for now. I'll talk about it in two years."
He wants to make achievements first, and women are burdens.
The nephew had a big idea, but Aunt Tan ignored it and raised her chin toward the door: "Where's Tingfang? It's sixteen..."
Guo Xiao frowned and said truthfully, "My father likes Brother Zhengchang, and my grandmother agrees. I asked him to come see him on the birthday. If my sister doesn't object, the marriage will be decided this year."
The eldest son of Zhenbei General Han Da's deceased, and the second son Han Zhengchang, who was nineteen this year, was born a talented person with excellent spear skills. Guo Xiao met him when they were young. Later, Han Zhengchang followed his father to guard the frontier. He only came back at the end of each year, but the friendship between the two was not affected. As a good friend, Guo Xiao admires Han Zhengchang very much, but his sister is really married, and I am afraid that he will go to the frontier with Han Zhengchang.
Aunt Tan was even more reluctant to part with her. The nephew would not be close to others. The niece cared about her very much. The niece often said that she was nice, so that the nephew could remember her aunt's affection. When her heart was sour, Aunt Tan's tears came down, she tilted her head and cried, "My poor Tingfang, my mother is gone, and the father-in-law doesn't care for her, so he was so cruel to marry her into that kind of bitter cold... "
"Brother Zhengchang is both talented and virtuous, and he was a good son-in-law who was chosen by his father after thousands of choices. His aunt should not think about it." Guo Xiao was just a little reluctant to part with his sister, but he never felt that there was anything wrong with this marriage. Looking at the capital, the age is suitable, let alone the father, he does not like, all are a group of wine bags and rice bags relying on Lao Tzu.
Aunt Tan smiled wryly, wiped her eyes and said, "He's your father, you don't like to hear me speak ill of him, but let's wait and see, your step sister is twelve, right? She will be married in two years, Youlin Shi Hu, I don't believe your father will marry her to the borderlands, just bullying Tingfang for being honest."
A chubby little face flashed across Guo Xiao's eyes, imagining that the greedy and foolish stepsister would one day marry another man and be bullied by her face, making her blushing almond eyes like spring rain, Guo Xiao Unconsciously clenched his hands.
Chu palace.
Zhao Heng got off the carriage, and just walked in the door, the king of Chu who got the news personally came out to pick up his younger brother, his face was full of spring breeze, as if there was something happy. Brother March is about to get married, and the bridal candle is approaching. Zhao Heng is not surprised. Entering the hall, he looks at his brother inquisitively, waiting for him to speak first.
"Guess the third brother, why did I call you here?" Chu Wang said in a loud voice, his eyebrows couldn't hide his pride.
Zhao Heng said: "I don't know."
The King of Chu glanced at his younger brother and slapped him hard.
Zhao Heng looked at the door of the main room, and soon, three footsteps came from outside, and Eunuch Kang led two women in white dresses in. Eunuch Kang avoided to one side, and the two women in white skirts lowered their heads and stepped forward, their waists slender like tender willows swaying in the wind by the lake. Standing still, the second daughter Qi Qi Fuli said coquettishly, "The people's daughter greets the First Highness and the Third Highness."
The voice was soft and charming.
Zhao Heng's eyes turned cold and he looked at his brother.
The king of Chu said as if asking for credit: "You are not too young. My brother specially asked someone to find two Yangzhou beauties for you. Don't you like to paint? Let them add fragrance to your red sleeves." He got married in March, nine Yue's second brother got married. The King of Chu was worried that his younger brother would not feel well, and hoped to comfort his younger brother with these two beauties.
He was kind, but Zhao Heng didn't need it, so he got up and left.
The King of Chu was in a hurry, so he chased after his younger brother and persuaded him from the front of the main room until his younger brother got into the carriage, but the beauty failed to send him off.
The author has something to say: Jia Ning: Why don't you want the two beauties with slender waists
Zhao Heng: I don't care about you.
Jia Ning: Really? I don't know it myself!
Zhao Heng: The clothes are not obvious.
Song Jianing was secretly delighted, and ran into the small dark room to check herself. Just after taking off her skirt, there was a sudden squeaking sound of the door being pushed outside.