As the red sun was setting in the west, the soldiers of Daxing Zuowei finished their day's training and headed towards the kitchen.
There are ten people from the garrison who will participate in the martial arts competition, among which Qin Wei is temporarily the captain.
Although the commander asked them to train normally, Qin Wei deliberately extended the time by two quarters of an hour. When he brought the other eight soldiers to the kitchen, he saw that the tables inside were almost all occupied. Even if there were empty seats, there were not enough for them to sit together.
The commander-in-chief said that the ten of them must eat and live together for the next three days.
Qin Wei glanced around and pointed to a table next to him that was almost done with its meal and said, "Just wait here."
However, just as he finished speaking, a man wearing a dusty apron came out of the kitchen with great effort carrying a square wooden table and shouted to them enthusiastically: "Captain, this way!"
This person is Gao Dazhuang.
He picked an empty space to place the wooden table, and continued to call out loudly: "Come on, I've saved some food for you, sit down and you can eat right away!"
When he opened his mouth, the entire kitchen fell silent, and all the soldiers stared at Gao Dazhuang, Qin Wei and the others.
Qin Wei wanted to frown when he saw Gao Dazhuang's thin body, but Gao Dazhuang's eyes were so bright and his smile was so sincere, so he just paused and led his people over.
Gao Dazhuang smiled and went to the kitchen to serve dinner for ten people.
Qin Wei and the other nine were only acquainted today. Gao Dazhuang, who had never trained with them, was even more unfamiliar to them. Adding to the pressure of the martial arts competition, the ten of them sat together and had nothing to talk about except eating.
They didn't say anything, but there were constant whispers around them, and some people didn't even care about being heard and spoke very loudly.
"I thought that with the arrival of the Prince Consort, our garrison would be able to get rid of the last place this year. I never expected that."
"That's right. Why not send anyone else but Gao Dazhuang?"
"What do you mean tall and strong? I think it should be short and thin, hahaha!"
Gao Dazhuang lowered his head, his face turning red and white.
Qin Wei and the other nine people's faces turned pale. They certainly didn't want to participate in the competition with Gao Dazhuang, but this was already a foregone conclusion. At this moment, they were even more unwilling to listen to those people's sarcastic remarks.
Just as Qin Wei was about to put down his bowl and go over to fight, the discussions behind him suddenly disappeared, and the kitchen became silent again.
Gao Dazhuang sat opposite him, looking at the kitchen entrance in disbelief.
Qin Wei turned around and saw the commander coming in and walking towards them.
All the soldiers in the garrison knew that the new commander was the son-in-law of the emperor, who married the emperor's favorite daughter, Princess Huayang. It was said that the princess was extremely beautiful, and the commander loved the princess very much. He would rather spend an hour on the road every evening to rush back to accompany the princess. Why didn't he go back today
While they were stunned, Chen Jingzong had already arrived at their table.
The ten people realized it belatedly and put down their bowls and chopsticks, then stood up quickly.
Chen Jingzong looked at Gao Dazhuang: "Bring me a set of bowls and chopsticks."
Gao Dazhuang looked at the two large pots of food on the table that had been touched by them, and stammered, "I, I'll serve another pot of food..."
Chen Jingzong: "No, I'm not that particular."
After saying that, Chen Jingzong placed the jar of wine in his hand on the shabby wooden table.
Gao Dazhuang quickly brought the bowl and chopsticks.
Qin Wei and his ten companions had no benches. Someone at the nearby table wanted to give his bench to the commander-in-chief, but Chen Jingzong refused and followed Qin Wei and the others and sat on the floor.
"I will eat and live with you for the next three nights. Don't be shy. Eat and drink when you should."
Chen Jingzong poured himself a bowl of wine first, and asked Qin Wei to share the rest among the ten people. This would both add to the fun and prevent anyone from getting drunk.
With Chen Jingzong around, the surrounding soldiers no longer dared to laugh at Gao Dazhuang and others.
After dinner, night fell completely, and Chen Jingzong followed the ten people to the barracks where they would stay for the next three nights.
The large bunk bed could accommodate fifteen soldiers, and Chen Jingzong chose the one closest to the door.
He was the first to take off his boots, but Qin Wei and the others were embarrassed. The commander was good-looking and looked like a refined person. He would definitely take a bath every day when he returned home. They...
Chen Jingzong: "I count to three. Whoever is still standing on the ground must run for half an hour."
Qin Wei and others rushed to take off their shoes and get on the kang, and in the blink of an eye they all obediently got into bed.
Chen Jingzong glanced at a pair of shoes on the ground, and suddenly his elder brother's words came to his mind: "... Open the window for a while."
He lay down silently.
Qin Wei was closest to him. He was the captain, and others didn't dare to ask. He tentatively asked, "Commander, are you really not afraid that we will lose?"
Chen Jingzong: "Why should we be afraid? We were ranked last in previous years, so it's normal to be ranked last again this year. We have nothing to lose."
"You really don't care about the ranking, why are you so strict?"
"It's to keep you strong enough to fight. If there's a war on the border someday, you can be used on the battlefield instead of running over and getting stabbed by enemy soldiers."
"That being said, seeing you come to eat and sleep with us in person, you must still care about us."
Chen Jingzong: "Not being afraid of losing doesn't mean not wanting to win. Even if we only go from last to second to last, that's still progress. The smell of stinky feet in this room is not in vain."
"… "
I don't know who laughed first, but in the end everyone laughed.
Chen Jingzong: "Okay, let's get familiar with each other first. Starting with Qin Wei, everyone should tell us their name, hometown, and who's in their family."
This is simple, and all ten people spoke about it one by one.
Chen Jingzong: "Next, tell us about the thing that made you happiest since you were a child. Listen carefully, it must be the happiest thing. Don't fool me."
Qin Wei was silent.
Everyone else urged him, Qin Wei coughed and said awkwardly: "Our family is poor. When I was ten years old, I saw others chewing chicken legs and was very greedy, so I went to the mountains to catch pheasants. I was so hungry that I could hardly walk. The moment I really caught a chicken, I was happier than when I chewed the chicken legs later."
"That's it. What are you embarrassed to say?"
Qin Wei touched his nose.
Gao Dazhuang was lying at the other end. He was the last to speak: "I used to be strong and ate a lot. My brothers and sisters-in-law all looked down on me. Later, I joined the garrison. I was happiest when I showed them my first reward for my meritorious service."
There was silence in the room for a moment.
Chen Jingzong: "Go on and tell me the most painful thing that happened to you."
"My father is dead."
"The girl I like is married to someone else."
"My brother stole money from home and my grandfather insisted that it was me who stole it."
Gao Dazhuang finally said: "I got that disease."
Silence fell again.
"Haha, I know the commander will be happiest when he marries the princess!"
Chen Jingzong laughed and did not deny it.
“What’s the most difficult thing?”
Chen Jingzong did not hide it: "My second brother died of illness at the age of 18. I didn't even see him for the last time."
Qin Wei and others: …
Gao Dazhuang: "How about we talk about the embarrassing things we have experienced. I'll go first. When I was fifteen, I liked a girl and I mustered up the courage to go find her. But I ate too many sweet potatoes that day and I started farting as soon as I saw her. It was really loud. I ran a long way away and I could still hear her laughing."
Everyone laughed.
"What happened later? Are you guys together?"
"No, she's pretty and married into a wealthy family."
"It's my turn now. My most embarrassing thing..."
Every time someone finished speaking, there was a burst of laughter, and as they laughed, it was Chen Jingzong's turn.
Chen Jingzong: "I have never embarrassed anyone. As long as I am thick-skinned enough, no one can embarrass me."
Qin Wei and others: …
Got it, so even if they really lose, there is no need to worry about the commander-in-chief losing face! .
Three days later.
The competition among the twenty-six guards will be held at the Royal Martial Arts Arena. In addition to the Emperor and the civil and military ministers, the empress and some invited ladies from both the inner and outer courts can also watch the competition.
Huayang moved into the palace a day in advance so that she could arrive at the final ceremony with her mother without having to get up early and wait in line outside the city gate.
She brought Wanyi with her.
In her previous life, Huayang didn't take anyone with her. Now, she treats the Chen family's children closer than in her previous life. Sanlang is also bold enough to come to Siyi Hall and ask her expectantly if she can take him into the palace.
Huayang knew that once she agreed, Erlang might also come. Although Dalang and Wanyi didn't say it, they must be envious and longing for her in their hearts.
Ministers would not bring children to such grand events. If Huayang favored Sanlang and others and brought four children at once, some people would inevitably say that the Chen family was relying too much on her, the princess, and her father-in-law would not be happy to be in the spotlight.
Therefore, Huayang only brought Wanyi with him. The ten-year-old girl was very likable and it was not conspicuous to have him around. After Wanyi returned home, she could also tell her brothers in person about what happened in the arena.
"Aunt Four, I'm so nervous."
After having breakfast in the Qifeng Hall in the palace, on the way to Fengyi Palace, Wanyi held the princess's fourth aunt's hand and whispered.
Huayang asked with a smile: "Didn't you see the queen yesterday?"
Wanyi shook her head and looked up, "I'm not afraid of the queen, I'm worried about my fourth uncle and the others."
She was afraid that her fourth uncle would feel bad if he lost.
Huayang gently touched her head: "Don't worry, your fourth uncle is not afraid of even your grandfather, so why would he be afraid of a competition?"
Wanyi laughed.
Fengyi Palace.
Not long after arriving in Huayang, Concubine Lin and other concubines, Princess Anle, and Princess Nankang also arrived.
Princess Nankang gave birth to a child during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she has recovered by now. She looks plump and has a rosy complexion, and she looks forward to today's competition.
Seeing Wanyi, Princess Nankang held her three-year-old daughter's hand and said jokingly with a smile: "Sister, you really like children."
She felt that it was because she could not give birth to Huayang that she had to get close to her husband's niece to relieve her loneliness.
Huayang just smiled and ignored it.
Wanyi quickly took a look at Princess Nankang and whispered to her own princess, "It turns out that not all princesses are as beautiful as you."
The little girl's lips were as white as honey, how could Huayang not like her
Not long after, a palace servant came to report that the emperor, the prince and the ministers had already gone to the martial arts arena.
Empress Qi then led everyone and set off.
The weather is clear today, and the sky is blue. Although the wind is not strong, it still makes people feel cold when it blows in their faces, and they exhale clouds of white mist.
On the high platform, Emperor Jingshun's dragon throne was placed in the middle, with seats for Empress Qi and other female relatives on the left, and civil and military ministers on the right.
After Huayang sat down, he looked towards the martial arts arena in front of him.
Ten men from each of the twenty-six guards were divided into three rows and lined up neatly in the middle of the training ground. Looking around, every soldier was tall and straight, with a heroic appearance.
The soldiers had a patch on their chest and back with the name of the guard they served in written on it, such as "Jin" for Jinyiwei and "Jinqian" for Jinwuqianwei.
Wanyi was next to the princess. At this time, she finally found the Daxing Zuowei where her fourth uncle was, standing at the westernmost end of the third row. "Ah, why is that person so thin?"
Wanyi said in surprise.
At the same time, Emperor Jingshun also noticed that there was an unusually thin soldier in the ten-man team of his son-in-law's guard. He frowned and said something to the eunuch Ma who was bending over to serve him.
Eunuch Ma then instructed the young eunuch, who ran down to the commanders standing in front of the three rows of soldiers and invited Chen Jingzong to go up to the stage to pay homage to the emperor.
Chen Jingzong followed the young eunuch to the stage.
Emperor Jingshun: "What's the matter with that skinny soldier in your garrison?"
Chen Jingzong lowered his eyes and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the soldier's name is Gao Dazhuang. He was once a strong man and had made two military achievements. Later, he became weak due to illness. Considering his previous merits, although he was transferred to the kitchen, he was still allowed to hold the title of a soldier and receive more military pay to show that the court will not forget those who have made contributions and to encourage other soldiers to be brave and enterprising."
Chen Tingjian was very close to Emperor Jingshun, with only the Crown Prince between them. He frowned when he heard this.
Emperor Jingshun looked calm on the outside, but his mind was filled with complicated emotions.
He chose "Gao Da Zhuang" hoping to secretly help his son-in-law pick a good soldier, but who would have thought that "Gao Da Zhuang" looked like this
He also knew that his son-in-law had only been in the garrison for less than half a year, and that Gao Dazhuang's matter was most likely arranged by other officers.
"Since you are sick and weak, why don't you tell me? If I know in advance, I can help you choose another one." Knowing that his son-in-law would definitely be ranked last again, Emperor Jingshun first paved a way for his son-in-law in front of everyone.
Chen Jingzong: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. However, I feel that when two armies are fighting on the battlefield, I cannot guarantee that every soldier is healthy. The same is true for martial arts competitions. If there are one or two sick soldiers, it may better reflect the true combat strength of the garrison. Therefore, I still let Gao Dazhuang go."
Emperor Jingshun smiled and said, "You are quite open-minded. Well, go away."
Chen Jingzong took his leave.
The prince watched his brother-in-law leave, then looked back at the tall and strong man, and a sense of anticipation actually arose in his heart.
(End of this chapter)