After leaving the Ministry of War, Chen Jingzong went to the garrison and, together with the two commanders, reorganized the army, weapons, and equipment in preparation for gathering outside the city gate the next morning.
Chen Jingzong was so busy that he didn't run to the capital until nightfall, and entered the city just before the city gates closed.
Because of the curfew, most people have gone to bed, and the faint moonlight covers every empty street.
It was not until this moment that Chen Jingzong had time to think about her. He wondered if she was afraid that the capital would be in chaos because of Prince Yu's rebellion, and if she was worried about him going out to fight.
But he couldn't put these two emotions on her bright and noble face.
After all, she was not an ordinary woman. Even when the previous emperor passed away, she only shed tears once in front of him. After leaving the palace, she quickly regained her composure and did not need anyone to comfort her.
In front of us is the Princess's mansion. The house is brightly lit and guards are patrolling outside the door.
"Prince Consort." The four guards guarding the gate saluted him respectfully.
Chen Jingzong nodded, handed the mount to the servant who was responsible for leading the horse, and walked in quickly.
It was a hot summer day and he was running around more today than usual. He didn't know how many times his official robe had been wet by sweat and dried again. But out of habit, Chen Jingzong still went to Liuyun Hall to wash it first.
Fugui had been waiting for his master for a long time. Now that he finally saw him, he almost ran to his master's side and said excitedly, "Prince consort, have you heard that the princess will go with the army?"
Chen Jingzong paused.
Fugui continued, "The Queen Mother personally issued an imperial decree this afternoon, saying that Prince Yu is the emperor's biological brother, and the Queen Mother couldn't bear to see Prince Yu and the emperor killing each other, so she arranged for the princess to go to the front line to persuade Prince Yu, hoping that Prince Yu would put down his weapons and turn back. But I think this should be the princess's own request. She was worried about you, and when she knew you were going to go to the war to quell the rebellion, she hurried into the palace!"
The princess has such deep affection for her master that Fugui is happy for her master!
Chen Jingzong was in no mood to share Fugui's good mood. He turned around, walked a few steps, then turned back and ordered Fugui in a cold voice, "Get some water ready. I want to take a bath."
Fugui smiled and said, "It's already prepared. Two buckets are cold and one is still hot."
Chen Jingzong left him and went into the inner room.
While wiping, Chen Jingzong looked at the water swaying in the wooden barrel and frowned even deeper. It was simply ridiculous.
A quarter of an hour later, Chen Jingzong arrived at the Qifeng Palace.
Huayang was already lying in bed. The army would gather outside the city gate early tomorrow morning, and she, the eldest princess, could not be late. She could live a life of luxury in the mansion, but since she was going to join the army, she had to act like a proper soldier. She couldn't let the soldiers look down on her and say that the eldest princess was just here to hold them back.
It was a very good plan. I had been lying in bed for half an hour, but I felt more and more energetic and had no desire to sleep at all.
Are you scared
It shouldn't be. The imperial court's deployment of troops this time was almost the same as in the previous life. The commander-in-chief was still General Ling Rucheng, and the ten guards that went into battle were still the same ten guards. She was also confident that she could help Chen Jingzong avoid the fatal disaster. After all, her father's death was because his dragon body had long been damaged. As for Chen Jingzong, she didn't believe that even after she had warned him, he could still rashly fall into the enemy's encirclement.
Perhaps it was because she had never been to the front line. No matter how likely they were to win, those were battlefields where soldiers sacrificed their lives and shed their blood.
Huayang turned over again, and then heard Chen Jingzong coming over.
Not long after, Chen Jingzong pushed the door open and walked in.
The room was dark. Just when Chen Jingzong thought she was asleep, Huayang said, "Light up two lamps."
The voice was calm, revealing a hint of excitement.
Chen Jingzong found a tinderbox and lit the two lamps closest to the bed, then looked at the bed again. She was wearing a plain white middle-length dress, with her black hair loose, a fair and rosy face, and a pair of eyes as bright as stars.
Chen Jingzong knew that he couldn't treat her as an ordinary woman. Look at her excitement, which was almost as good as being rich and powerful. How could she be nervous at all
"Did the Queen ask you to go and negotiate with Prince Yu, or did you take the initiative to propose to go?" Chen Jingzong put down the tinder, walked to the bedside, looked at her and asked.
Huayang didn't like having to look up to talk to him, so he patted the bed and asked him to sit down first.
Chen Jingzong sat down with a surprised look on his face.
Hua Yang then said, "I want to go by myself. Just as the imperial edict says, I am going to negotiate peace to show the kindness of my mother and brother to Prince Yu."
Chen Jingzong: "You don't think that Prince Yu will give you face and surrender to the court after listening to you?"
Huayang: "He has rebelled, how can he be so stupid? But I am making this trip just to save face. My mother and I don't expect to stop the war with a few words."
Chen Jingzong laughed angrily: "Since you know it's a face-saving job, why do you insist on going? Do you think that following the army will be as easy as when we went to Lingzhou, where we only walk 40 miles every day, rest at the post station every day, and have a constant supply of hot water for you to use? Let me tell you, this time the army travels day and night, and can only rest for three hours a day at most. Even if there is a river nearby, there is no time to boil water for you to bathe, not to mention the mosquitoes and horse manure outdoors."
Huayang: …
"These are just minor matters. The enemy may rush over at any time on the battlefield. If you really encounter fierce soldiers and generals, even General Ling cannot guarantee that he can protect you. You are so delicate and tender that you can be strangled to tears just by tying you up with a rope. If they really use swords and guns, don't expect the rebels to be afraid of your identity as the eldest princess. They are even going to rebel against the emperor, so why would they be afraid of you?"
Chen Jingzong became more and more fierce as he spoke, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Huayang became more and more unfriendly.
Huayang just looked at him patiently, and when Chen Jingzong had said enough, Huayang suddenly smiled.
Chen Jingzong: …
Hua Yang explained: "This is the first time you have spoken to me in this tone since our father passed away."
From the first day she married Chen Jingzong, Chen Jingzong never treated her as a princess who was above him. He dared to say dirty words at night and mocked her or said something sarcastic during the day. Even though their relationship had improved a lot in this life, they never stopped fighting with words, either Chen Jingzong stabbed her or she stabbed Chen Jingzong. It was not until his father passed away that Chen Jingzong suddenly became a different person. He could not say words of comfort and concern, but he did not dare to say anything indecent. He was silent every day.
To be honest, Huayang was not used to the silent and obedient Chen Jingzong. She would rather the two of them be like they used to be, arguing and making noise when necessary.
As soon as Huayang pointed it out, Chen Jingzong pursed his lips again.
Fortunately, Huayang just smiled. If she had changed her expression, Chen Jingzong would have worried that he had said something too harsh and would have scolded the princess, who had just lost her father, to tears.
Huayang looked at his awkward look and began to refute: "I am indeed a pampered person. When I first married into your family, I was suddenly asked to travel thousands of miles to mourn an old lady I had never met. Of course I was not happy. I felt uncomfortable and complained about this and that on the way. But this time, accompanying the army is a major matter related to the stability of the court and the lives of the people and soldiers. If you think I will still act like a princess at this time, then you underestimate me."
Being spoiled does not mean being ignorant of the overall situation and being willful and capricious. One can be particular when necessary, but if it is impossible to take both into account, Huayang will definitely put the overall situation first.
Chen Jingzong still had a stern face: "Even if you are not afraid of hardship, aren't you afraid of being abducted by the rebels?"
Hua Yang smiled and said, "I believe in my father and mother's planning, I believe in General Ling's deployment of troops, and I believe that no matter what happens, Zhou Ji will lead 300 personal soldiers to protect me."
Chen Jingzong's face turned even darker.
Huayang knew that he had been jealous of Zhou Ji, and she did it on purpose.
When Chen Jingzong was about to lose his patience, Huayang moved over, sat in his arms, hooked his neck and said: "Of course, I believe that even if I am in danger, someone will save me from danger in time."
Chen Jingzong's whole body was stiff. He was trying to prevent her from saying another irritating name, and at the same time, he was trying his best to suppress his body from changing due to her long-unseen proximity.
Because the late emperor had only been dead for more than a month, if he dared to think about that, she would definitely be unhappy.
Huayang said nothing, leaning his head on his broad shoulder, and said sleepily: "Go to sleep, you have to get up early tomorrow."
Chen Jingzong: …
His tone was cold and hard: "Since you want to sleep, why don't you lie down on the bed?"
Huayang: "You are more comfortable here than in bed."
Chen Jingzong took a deep breath: "You are comfortable, but I am not."
He had only said half of his words when Huayang knew that he was feeling unwell.
She pretended not to notice and continued to rest her head on his shoulder and hug his waist.
Chen Jingzong endured it again and again, and suddenly lifted her up with one hand, stood up, and turned off the two lights first.
The room fell into darkness. Chen Jingzong held the princess, who had lost several pounds, in his arms. Finally, he came to the south screen window and placed her on the table.
The half-moon cast its bright light, making the princess's long black hair glow with a soft satin luster.
Chen Jingzong kissed her head, held her hand, and asked, "When I go to war, and you follow me, aren't you afraid that the soldiers and the people will misunderstand you and say that you are going for me, and that the peace talks with Prince Yu are just a cover for you to start?"
Huayang thought about it and said indifferently: "It's not a misunderstanding, I did it for you."
Chen Jingzong heard the sarcasm in her words.
This made the words that he should obviously like to hear become like the moon in the water, seeming both real and illusory.
Just as he had never seriously said that he liked her, she was unwilling to express anything clearly, even though she could even entrust her life to him.
Sometimes he doesn’t care, and sometimes, like now, Chen Jingzong feels a little annoyed.
This irritability was caused by her. She deliberately made him feel uncomfortable, so why should he be polite
His right hand left her hair and grasped her chin, and the moment it was raised, Chen Jingzong lowered it.
Although he seemed strong, there was still a hint of temptation in his heart. Perhaps if Huayang just dodged back for a while, he would let go immediately.
But Huayang didn't hide.
She missed her father, but missing him was not contradictory to continuing to enjoy life.
Although she would not be as rebellious as Chen Jingzong, Xiaozhong would still eat meat, drink wine and even indulge in sex as usual, but such a kiss was still acceptable occasionally.
After all, they will go out together tomorrow, and in the next three or four months they may not be able to enjoy the comfort and relaxation they are experiencing now, or the refreshment they both feel after taking a bath.
Huayang put his arms around his neck.
Chen Jingzong's whole body was shocked.
When the two of them fell on the bed together and Huayang did not dodge, Chen Jingzong endured it again and again, but still whispered in her ear: "How about I go and pick her up secretly?"
Huayang: …
(End of this chapter)