"On the way back to Your Majesty, my wife contracted a cold and has been ill for a long time. She is unable to come to see you. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Zhao Deji was speechless and didn't know whether Hua Rong was really sick or just didn't want to see him. He just rewarded him for his merits. Yue Peng rewarded him with two thousand taels of silver, clothes and armor, gold belts, bows and arrows, war horses, etc., and was promoted to Wu Sheng and Ding Guojun's Xuanfu envoy. , the 20,000 troops were called the "Shenwu Rear Army" and were stationed in Xiangyang.
His subordinates Zhang Xian and others were all rewarded and promoted.
Yue Pengju heard that Xiangyang was far away, and the sky was high and the sky was high. It was the ideal result discussed between himself and Hua Rong. It was in line with his own wishes. After thanking Tian's grace, he was about to leave.
He was about to go out when Zhao Deji suddenly asked: "Is Hua Rong seriously ill?"
"It's not serious. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
He stood up and walked down. With a wave of his hand, Eunuch Kang presented a brocade box, and he himself took off a jade pendant from his body.
"Peng Ju, this jade pendant was the wedding gift I gave her at the beginning. You can just give it to her..." As soon as this jade pendant arrived in Hua Rong's hands, it was used to pack the old fisherman's escape ferry. After several twists and turns, Zhao Deji later Lin Zhijie, the old fisherman and others were rewarded generously, but they only wanted this jade pendant back as a souvenir.
"There is also a box of ginseng and polygonum multiflorum prescribed by the imperial doctor. You can give it to Hua Rong as well, as a token of my appreciation for her."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhao Deji watched him go out. His back was unusually tall and tall, and he was extremely heroic. He felt a little melancholy in his heart. From now on, Rong'er will be the wife of this imperial general!
But Rong'er, why didn't you even want to enter the palace for the last time? Is it because you are afraid that you will never come back
He was angry, but helpless.
That night, a larger fireworks show was held in the palace.
Zhao Deji's only son was carefully taken care of and played by Pan Yingying and others. Unexpectedly, the fireworks soared into the sky, and the little prince was so frightened that he cried loudly and almost fainted.
Zhao Deji felt sorry for his son and hurriedly ordered the fireworks to stop. When he rushed to take a look, he saw that his son's lips were black and he was so thin that he looked as if he was going to die at any time.
He hugged the only son with a congenital defect tightly and comforted him for a long time. When he saw him sleeping peacefully, he realized so urgently in his heart: He must have another son, otherwise, if something happened, he wouldn't even be able to choose the heir to the throne.
The concubines were naturally able to figure out the emperor's thoughts, and they were all gearing up to secretly compete to see who could lead the other princes. However, since they escaped twice, once from the palace maid Song Xixi, and once from Wu Jinnu, they were all frightened. Generally, without realizing it, Zhao Deji's interest in the affairs of the family was greatly reduced. Whenever he had the desire for sex, he could not help but be interrupted by the fear in his heart.
However, today, his strong desire to have a child increased his desire again. Seeing that all the concubines were wearing heavy make-up and were fat and thin, especially Zhang Yingying, who was the most beautiful among the women, he felt moved in his heart and said: "Ms. Zhang , just go to bed tonight."
Zhang Yingying stood out from the crowd of concubines. She was surprised and happy. Wu Jinnu, Pan Yingying and others congratulated her repeatedly, but they were filled with hatred and jealousy. They could only watch the official take Zhang Yingying's arm and leave with great affection.
The red tent was warm at night, the incense was charming, and Zhang Yingying was fawning over him in every possible way. Zhao Deji was panting. When he reached the critical point, the words "The golden soldiers are coming" suddenly popped into his head. His whole body collapsed on the bed, dripping with sweat.
"The official family, the official family..."
Zhang Yingying was so frightened that her face burst into tears.
Zhao Deji's face was pale and his voice was low: "If you dare to reveal even a word about what happened today, I will punish your nine clans..."
Zhang Yingying knelt naked in front of him, almost fainting from fright.
On the second day, Wu Jinnu, Pan Yingying and others wanted to congratulate her and visit her, but they saw bruises all over Pan Yingying's neck and face.
Zhang Yingying forced a smile, but the two of them didn't know why. Later, when it was her turn to sleep with the two of them, they found out the secret of the official's "sexual intercourse". Her desire came up and she couldn't give vent to it, so she bit and scratched the concubine. The three of them were injured. They were so tired that they no longer dared to go to bed, and every time they tried to find ways to replace them with palace maids. Each and every one of them tragically realized that their hope of having a son was basically completely shattered.
Pan Yingying was the only one who was in high spirits, and even took good care of her son who was born with deficiencies. She secretly prayed that the official marriage would never be good, and that other women in the palace would never have another son.
The twelfth lunar month of winter.
After experiencing the war and the raging Jin army, the scenery along the way was bleak, but it could not hide the atmosphere of the approaching New Year. Tomorrow night is New Year's Eve.
Yue Pengju led his troops to return to Xiangyang.
Zhang Xian caught up and said, "It seems we have to spend this New Year's Eve on the march."
Yue Pengju smiled and said: "It's not good to be on the march. We must rush back."
"Yes, the family members are all waiting. Pengju, my sister-in-law is also waiting for you."
When Yue Pengju heard the word "sister-in-law", his eyes showed an extremely gentle look: "Yes, she is waiting for me. She must be waiting impatiently. We have to hurry up."
After a month or two of family members stationed here, the abandoned manor has already become popular.
Hua Rongde was carefully taken care of by Zhang Xian's wife, Sister Gao, and she recovered from her condition. She was only haggard and still miserable. After escaping from the sea, what made her miserable was not because of illness, but because of fatigue, the kind of fatigue that penetrated into the bones, what the hell. I don’t want to do anything, I don’t want to think about anything, I just want peace and purity.
I had been separated from Yue Pengju for a long time, and I was worried about whether his visit to the palace would go smoothly. I looked forward to his return every day. I couldn't eat or sleep well, and I was even more haggard.
Fortunately, there are many children in the family, and they run around energetically all day long, full of laughter and laughter. The fourth sister in high school knew that she was literate, so she pestered her to teach her sons to read and write. She agreed, and the other female relatives also learned about it. They all brought their own children, but she did not refuse. According to a rough calculation, there were thirty or forty children gathered there. They read aloud every day, and the children respectfully called her "Mr. Hua."
She had never experienced such a life before, and she felt it was novel and warm, and her soul finally felt a little comforted.
When I woke up this morning and heard the sporadic sound of firecrackers, I realized that New Year's Eve was here.
During the two days of Chinese New Year, the children were on holiday and did not study, so she was fine. She just sat at the table and stared at the brazier in a daze.
Senior Sister Gao was a gentle woman. She opened the door and came in. Seeing that she was listless, she said softly: "Sister, are you feeling unwell?"
"No. Everything has been fine recently."
"Brother Yue and the others will be back soon. Don't worry, let's eat some Yuanxiao first."
"Thank you, Senior Senior Sister."
Looking through the open window, Hua Rong discovered that it was snowing like goose feathers. She was a little worried: "The weather is so bad, I don't know if Pengju and the others can make it back in time."
"Yes, I can certainly do it! I have already ordered a New Year's Eve dinner to reward the army."
Hua Rong sighed: "Sister Senior High School, I was lingering on the sickbed a few days ago. It's all thanks to you."
"My younger sister is capable of fighting enemies in battle, and her literary skills of teaching and calligraphy are unmatched by women like me. Therefore, I can only take care of these logistical matters. It can be considered as sharing some of the burden for my husbands..."
Senior Sister Gao had already gone out to give orders to the cooks. Throughout the whole day, she and her female relatives were busy tidying up the garden and decorating it with lanterns.
Hua Rong thought, maybe it’s to welcome New Year’s Eve.
New Year's Eve is always full of joy.
For many years, she spent New Year's Eve alone. Last year, she experienced life and death in Jinying, so she missed Yue Pengju even more deeply at this moment. How happy would she be if she could spend it with him
She stood alone by the door and watched the swaying snow. In the evening, there was no sign of anyone. Gradually, she became disappointed. She smelled the aroma of various meat and delicacies, but had no emotion, so she went back to the house and closed the door. Window seat.
The door was pushed open with a bang. Before she could react, she was hugged tightly by a man covered in wind and snow: "Sister, you miss me so much..."
She laughed out loud in his arms, and after a long while, she raised her head, wiped the wind and snow off his body, pulled him to sit by the brazier, held his cold hands together and put them to the fire to roast.
He hugged her light body and saw that she was still pale and a little worried: "Sister, are you feeling well?"
"Okay, everything is okay."
I didn't have much energy at first, but after seeing him, my energy improved.
She hugged his neck: "Pengju, I have been worried about you, but now I am finally relieved."
"Don't worry, no one will bother us again when we go to Xiangyang."
"Um."
The fourth sister of senior high school knocked on the door and came in with a new set of clothes in her hand: "Zhang Xian and I have discussed that we might as well arrange your marriage on New Year's Eve tonight..."
Hua Rong blushed and then realized that the fourth sister Ganqing Gao and others had been busy today not only because of New Year's Eve, but also preparing for the wedding banquet for herself and Yue Pengju.
Yue Pengju was smiling all over his face. Apparently, Zhang Xian had already asked for his opinion.
He took the red coat with his own hands, and the fourth sister wisely stepped out and closed the door.
Yue Pengju said softly: "Sister, let me put it on for you."
She hummed in a low voice and let him awkwardly put on the bright red new clothes for her. She didn't know if other women got married and their husbands personally put on their wedding clothes.
There were no empty seats in the mansion.
With the sound of firecrackers and the feasting, everyone was immersed in this beautiful day of New Year's Eve and weddings. They were eating, drinking, talking and laughing.
Yue Pengju held Hua Rong's hand and stood in the hall.
Zhang Xian was the host of the wedding and shouted:
"Worship the heaven and the earth"
"Two bows to the high hall"
"Couple's Worship"
“…”
There was a chorus of laughter and laughter.
No one noticed that in the far corner, a big man slowly stood up from among a group of drunken soldiers, turned around and walked out.
It was snowing outside and he was walking heavily.
The cold wind made the wounds on her shoulders and waist hurt. One of them was seriously injured by the spiked mace of the Jin army when Jin rescued her, and the other was shot when she fought against the Jin army in the sea to protect her.
In the eardrums, there came waves of devilish urging sounds, "Send into the bridal chamber"...
"Sent to the bridal chamber..."
"Send it to the bridal chamber!"
…
He covered his ears, took out a piece of yellowed paper from his arms, laughed wildly, picked up the paper and dropped it. The Geng Tie with the two names written on it fell to the ground and broke into pieces, like the yellowed dead butterflies in the sky.
"The hatred of seizing your wife is a great shame and humiliation! Yue Pengju, I will not be a human being until I kill you!"
…
In the bridal chamber, it was a different scene.
The room carefully decorated by Senior Sister Gao and a group of female relatives was full of red and joyful, with longan, peanuts, lotus seeds and other things sprinkled on the bed.
Yue Pengju gently brushed away these things on the bed, and sat down next to Hua Rong. Under the candlelight, he saw her face was red, her eyes were charming, and she was extremely gorgeous.
His heart skipped a beat: "I'm so happy..."
She almost lowered her head when he looked at her like this, and couldn't help but push him: "Idiot..."
Yue Pengju smiled, hugged her happily, and the tasseled curtain hung down, covering the room with the boundless spring scenery...