As the sun sets, Chen Jingzong stands outside the more than one-meter-high wall of his house holding his prey. He whistles and throws the prey over the top of the wall. Then he jumps again and is on top of the wall.
As he went up, he saw the little maid Zhu'er standing in the small courtyard of the west wing, looking up at him and reporting anxiously: "Prince consort, the princess is entertaining the old lady, please be quiet!"
Chen Jingzong understood and handed the prey to Zhu'er. He jumped down quietly, making almost no sound.
After staying in the mountains for a day, he was covered in dirt. If he went out now, his mother would definitely notice him.
Chen Jingzong flicked the dirt off his clothes and asked Zhu'er, "Why are you here at this hour?"
Zhu Er shook her head: "I don't know either. When Sister Chao Yun asked me to go under the eaves to give instructions, I seemed to hear the old lady persuading the princess not to be angry."
Chen Jingzong paused. She was an ancestor, and how could anyone dare to mess with her
In the hall not far away, Sun was sure that the princess' daughter-in-law didn't take the gossip in the garden to heart. As she relaxed, she suddenly thought of her own son, the fourth child, and asked curiously, "It's almost time for dinner, why haven't I seen the fourth child?"
Huayang said with a half-sad and half-smiling tone: "Who knows? I haven't seen him for a long time. But don't worry, mother. When dinner is served later, he will definitely show up."
To fool Wanyi, Huayang could say that Chen Jingzong was sleeping in, but the person in front of him was his mother-in-law, who dared to go into the room and wake her son up.
Sun guessed that the fourth son had secretly gone out, but she didn't want to say it out loud and make the princess and her daughter-in-law laugh at her, but she couldn't help but say a few words of disdain.
But her disdain was different from Luo Yuyan's ridicule. Huayang could see that his mother-in-law loved her own son.
Huayang suddenly asked: "Mother, my elder and third brothers are all good at studying, why did the prince consort choose to practice martial arts?"
In fact, she had been curious about this question in her previous life, but at that time she was estranged from everyone in the Chen family. Asking Chen Jingzong directly was tantamount to exposing someone's shortcomings in person, and asking her mother-in-law would be like looking down on someone else's son in person.
In this life, she is closer to Sun, so they can talk about some family matters.
Seeing that her daughter-in-law only had curiosity in her eyes and no other hidden meaning, Sun shook her head and sighed, "This can't be blamed entirely on Jingzong."
After she married Chen Tingjian, she gave birth to four sons in total.
The eldest brother won the top spot in the imperial examination, the second brother had also achieved the title of juren when he died of illness, and the third brother won the third place in the imperial examination. Needless to say, these three brothers had great talent for studying.
As for the fourth child, he was just like his older brothers when he was young, with red lips, white teeth, delicate eyes and eyebrows. He could recite poems and lyrics very quickly, and it was obvious that he was a potential student.
The bad thing is that the fourth child is the youngest. Even if he has the same talent as his brothers, he is older than them. As a result, the sentence the fourth child heard most when he was young became "Silang, you must study hard and grow up to be as good as your brothers!"
Or when the fourth child occasionally played around in school and made mistakes, the teachers would say to him, "You are so naughty. You are nowhere near what your eldest brother was!"
Sometimes he is not as good as the eldest brother, sometimes not as good as the second brother, and sometimes not as good as the third brother. In short, no matter how well the fourth brother does, it is difficult for the fourth brother to show his intelligence with three older brothers in front of him.
If the teacher is an outsider, then there is no need to take the words of relatives and friends to heart, but the one who dislikes the fourth child the most in the family is her husband Chen Tingjian.
Colleagues in the officialdom all praise my husband for being gentle, calm and dignified, but at home and in front of the children, he is a strict father through and through.
Especially since my husband was still young at that time and had even less patience with the children.
The eldest is steady, the second is weak, and the third is smooth. These three are rarely scolded.
The fourth child was more lively and was scolded the most often. But he was also a tough guy. The more he was scolded, the less he wanted to study. He even ran to the home of the military officer next door and learned martial arts with the other child.
Regardless of the general situation of the court valuing civil officials over military officials, or the husband's own selfish desire as a civil official, he hoped that the fourth child would study hard and obtain a good reputation. In order to make the fourth child give up learning martial arts, the husband ignored her opposition and used various tricks such as house arrest and family rules on the fourth child. In the end, she couldn't stand it anymore and threatened her husband to move back to the old house. The husband reluctantly hired a martial arts master for the fourth child.
The father and son were fed up with each other, and when the old man was forty years old, he stubbornly took Master Wu back to Lingzhou.
Thinking of the years she had been separated from the fourth child and his mother, Sun sighed again.
Huayang finally understood why a young master named Wu appeared in the elder's family.
"Hey, I should go back now. If the fourth brother comes back too late, I will scold him tomorrow. Princess, please don't be angry with him."
Before leaving, Sun was still worried about her son who had disappeared.
Huayang smiled as he sent his mother-in-law to the gate of the courtyard. When he turned around, he saw Chen Jingzong walking out from the west wing.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, he was dressed in cloth, with an upright figure, and both sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing a pair of slender and strong forearms.
The couple walked to the front of the main room almost at the same time.
"Why are you here, mother?" Chen Jingzong looked at her and asked.
Huayang smiled and said, "It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning."
She really didn't take Luo Yuyan's little thoughts to heart. Some women consider their husbands an honor, but she was a princess, and the man was proud to be her consort.
"Go take a shower, we'll have dinner soon."
Leaving behind the sweaty man, Huayang went to the next room to rest first.
Chen Jingzong: …
He didn't notice that she was angry, but he could see some pride and complacency in her!
.
After nightfall, Chen Jingzong rinsed his mouth several times before walking towards the bed.
"Turn off the lights." Huayang said without allowing any objection.
Chen Jingzong: "See what's going on?"
Huayang just stared at him.
Chen Jingzong didn't want to ruin her mood, so he went to turn off all the lights.
When he reached the bed, his breathing was already like fire.
Huayang was lying lazily. Chen Jingzong came to hug her, but she didn't react at all, as if she was asleep. It was not until Chen Jingzong put her in his arms that Huayang screamed and tried to move away.
"That's it." Chen Jingzong held her down.
But he was like a branding iron, how could Huayang sit still
Just as she was about to suggest lying down, Chen Jingzong suddenly grabbed her thin pajamas and pulled it down along her shoulders.
Huayang immediately hugged his head.
In her previous life, she married him for four years and never experienced such a feeling. Now that she knows the benefits of it in this life, Huayang can no longer bear to let him die.
No matter how many problems he had during the day, he was really better at night. Even though there were many strong and healthy military officers out there, she was too lazy to bother looking for a second one.
When things were tough, Huayang almost tore the cover of her most treasured Shu brocade quilt.
He tossed and turned like this until the third watch, when all the noise stopped when he stepped out of the bed.
Huayang lay softly on Chen Jingzong's broad chest, her creamy body moving with his strong breathing.
Chen Jingzong held her shoulders and said with lingering feelings: "This is what it means to be a couple, and this is what it means to live a good life. When we are done with the service, I can make your life even better."
The word "pass" is particularly strong.
After all, he worked hard that night but got nothing in return, so he was very angry.
Hua Yang ignored his rude words, pressed his clavicle unconsciously with his fingertips, and said weakly: "I want to burn incense for the old lady."
Chen Jingzong looked at her in surprise: "It's been hot lately, and you rarely even leave the house. How can you still want to burn incense?"
Chen Jingzong understood what was going on: "Are you really going?"
Huayang had already found an excuse. He used his nails to leave crescent-shaped marks on his firm skin as if to vent his anger. He said guiltily, "We are in mourning after all, but we have done so many things that are against etiquette. You may not mind, but I always feel guilty, so I want to go to the old lady's grave to repent and ask for her forgiveness."
Burning incense is nothing, Chen Jingzong really didn't want her to waste the summer heat, so he consoled her: "The old lady is from the country, there are no such things to pay attention to..."
Huayang pinched him hard.
Chen Jingzong took a long breath and said, "Okay, let's go. How about tomorrow morning? Let's go early while it's still cool."
Huayang was satisfied, and released his hand, saying, "The day after tomorrow. I'm afraid I won't be able to get up tomorrow morning."
Although Chen Jingzong didn't laugh out loud, his chest was vibrating and he was obviously very proud.
After a day's rest, in the evening, Huayang and Chen Jingzong went to the main house to see Sun. When Chen Tingjian heard that the princess's daughter-in-law had arrived, he put down his book and opened the hall.
After the greeting, Chen Jingzong said, "Mother, the princess had a dream last night. She dreamed of an old woman. From her description, I felt that she looked very much like my grandmother. The princess was a little scared and felt uneasy all day. I want to take her to burn incense for my grandmother tomorrow morning."
Huayang cooperated and looked nervous.
Sun was very surprised. The princess and her daughter-in-law had never seen the old lady, so how could they dream about her
Whether it was true or false, it was the Chen family's fault that the princess was frightened.
Chen Tingjian had already spoken: "Perhaps the princess condescended to come to mourn for the old lady, and she was too happy, so she accidentally bumped into the princess. So, tomorrow we will accompany the princess, and I will tell the old lady not to disturb the princess again."
Dreaming about the old lady was just an excuse for burning incense agreed upon by Huayang and Chen Jingzong. Chen Tingjian was so serious. Huayang felt ashamed for deceiving his father-in-law, but Chen Jingzong was secretly amused. What kind of top scholar and minister actually believed in ghosts and gods
He showed disdain on his face, and Huayang glared at him. How could his father-in-law believe in ghosts and gods? He said that just to appease her.
The prince consort became obedient, and Huayang said to Chen Tingjian, "I won't bother my father, mother, and brothers and sisters-in-law with this matter. Just ask the prince consort to accompany me. It will be troublesome to travel with so many people, and it will waste time. If the people nearby see us, they will suspect whether something big has happened in our house."
Chen Tingjian was very hesitant.
Chen Jingzong sneered: "I will protect the princess, what are you worried about?"
Chen Tingjian looked over with dissatisfaction. What he was afraid of was that his son would act up and fail to take good care of the princess.
If the princess had not been present, he would have said this.
There was not a single day that the father and son could live in harmony. Sun was tired and made the decision, "The princess has thought it through. We will listen to her. I will ask people to prepare incense and you can bring four guards tomorrow morning."
Chen Jingzong was about to say that he didn't need guards, but Huayang gently pulled him. Her purpose was to burn incense and there was no secret. It would be better to have guards following her, which was enough to prove that she was not looking for an excuse to take Chen Jingzong out for sightseeing.
That's how it was settled.
After the young couple left, Sun scolded her husband: "Asking the fourth son to accompany the princess alone can help the young couple develop their relationship, but you brought your whole family with you. What kind of thing is that?"
Chen Tingjian seemed to have heard a big joke: "With the fourth brother being like that, how can the princess have feelings for him? They are two completely different people!"
If the Emperor and Empress had not taken the initiative to arrange this marriage, Chen Tingjian would never have asked for a royal princess to marry for the fourth son even if he had the nerve to do so.
By chance, the rough man, the fourth brother, married the princess. The fourth brother took all the advantages, while the princess suffered all the grievances!
Sun said quietly, "The Emperor praised the Fourth Prince for his bravery, but look how he despises you, as if you were the princess's biological father."
"Nonsense!" Chen Tingjian's face changed drastically. He rarely scolded his wife, and then lowered his voice to explain: "Such rebellious words, you should be careful about what you say."
Sun curled her lips and said, "Let's not talk about that. I just think that the relationship between husband and wife has nothing to do with each other's status. If the princess dislikes the fourth son, we can't do anything about it. But if the princess doesn't dislike him, but you dislike the fourth son every day, I'm afraid that the princess will blame you for being too rude to her husband. The day before yesterday, the third son's wife was in a bad mood and hinted that the fourth son was not good at reading and had only brute force. The princess got angry on the spot..."
Chen Tingjian frowned: "The third daughter-in-law is throwing a tantrum? Throwing a tantrum at the princess?"
Sun: "What I mean is that the princess has shown signs of protecting our fourth child. You..."
Chen Tingjian didn't believe it and interrupted his wife, saying, "Let's talk about the third daughter-in-law first. I'm the father-in-law and it's not easy for me to come forward. You, as the mother-in-law, go and warn her not to disrespect the princess again."
Sun: "She's pregnant, what can I say?"
Chen Tingjian's face darkened: "Even if you are pregnant, you must not forget your superiors and subordinates. If you don't want to tell me, call the third brother over and let him tell me."
Sun had a headache: "Forget it, forget it, let me tell you."
If things really get out of hand, she’s afraid that the third daughter-in-law will give birth prematurely!
.
The next morning, Chen Jingzong set off early with Huayang.
There are many hills near Shiqiao Town, one of which is reserved for local people to bury their dead. The Chen family’s ancestral tomb is also there.
The coachman drove the carriage, and the princess and her husband sat in the carriage.
The carriage was not big to begin with, and Chen Jingzong was steaming all over, making Huayang very uncomfortable.
Chen Jingzong pretended to lift the curtain.
Huayang slapped his hand with the handle of his fan: "How shameful!"
She is a princess, how could she open the curtains and let people see her
She thought Chen Jingzong was too rough, and Chen Jingzong couldn't stand her aloofness, so he simply turned around and opened the curtains on his side.
Huayang immediately covered his face with a fan.
Chen Jingzong stuck his head out of the car window.
"Hey, Lao Si is going out?" A neighbor saw him and greeted him with a smile.
Chen Jingzong had lived in the old home the longest and was kind to the neighbors. He replied, "Yes, I dreamed of our old lady. I went to burn some incense for her."
Neighbor: "Old Four is still the most filial."
While speaking, the neighbor looked curiously into the carriage.
However, Chen Jingzong held the curtain with one hand, leaving only his head and shoulders exposed, so the neighbors could not see anything.
When the carriage left the town, there were few people on the road and in the fields, so Chen Jingzong hung the curtain high.
The refreshing morning breeze blew over, Huayang glanced at Chen Jingzong and slowly lowered the fan.
Chen Jingzong leaned against the corner of the carriage, his eyes unscrupulously sweeping over her flushed face and her plump lips. Occasionally, the carriage shook and her clothes fluttered, making it even more difficult to take his eyes off her.
Huayang felt that his vision had also turned into a pair of hands.
The longer he looked at her, the more embarrassed she became, and finally she became angry and hit him with the handle of the fan again.
Chen Jingzong pulled down the curtain with one hand, then grabbed her wrists with both hands and pushed her hard against the car board.
It was broad daylight, with the driver in front and the guards behind, Huayang was furious and gritted his teeth and scolded him: "How dare you!"
Chen Jingzong: "It's more unrestrained at night, don't you like it?"
Before he finished speaking, he started to bite it.
(End of this chapter)