Brother Gong and Second Brother Gong came back with the army this time.
The chief general is about to be fifty years old, and he can be regarded as the teacher of Brother Gong and Second Brother Gong. The two of them have been following the chief general in the barracks.
Of the four lieutenants, the Gong family brothers accounted for two, the other two were the young master of Yongding Houfu, and the other was a man from the north.
The sharp swords were unloaded in the palace, the main general was in front, the two military divisions were half a step behind, and the four lieutenants followed behind them in a row. The group walked calmly and neatly, with an unstoppable battlefield momentum, as if the armor was still on the ground during the movements. Volatile smell of blood.
"See Your Majesty, long live my emperor, long live, long live!"
"The ministers are fortunate enough to live up to their mission and conscript Beihu for His Majesty!"
"Okay!" The figure of Emperor Yongkun sat in the middle of the exquisite but majestic dragon chair, uttering a word clearly and resonantly.
The ministers and family members who had saluted were still kneeling around, De Zhi filled him with wine, and Emperor Yongkun raised the wine glass and stood up, "My dear friends, please rise up, today is Jingheng's big day, if you don't get drunk tonight, you won't return. I will do it first!"
There were other soldiers following behind the midfielders at a distance of three meters. Emperor Yongkun raised his head and gulped it down. He flipped the wine glass to signal, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall was instantly ignited.
The Erlangs who came back from the battlefield are sharp but with a shining light, and their dark skin cannot cover their bright eyes.
Some of the noble ladies who were secretly observing just now had already blushed on their cheeks.
Emperor Yongkun was about to invite someone to come to his side, when he looked up, Big Brother Gong and Second Brother Gong had already brought his little girl to the middle of their table and sat down.
Both of them had a separate table, which would put the two tables together, and put all the good things in the middle. The two strong and strong men had gentle smiles, and there was no trace of the ferocious iron blood on their faces. Protect his little girl tightly in the middle.
"Huh~" Emperor Yongkun let out a foul breath.
It can be seen that she is also very happy. The siblings have not seen each other for a long time. She has been favored since she was a child at home. From Gong Shoufu and the old lady to her brothers, everyone regards her as an eyeball.
The two older brothers, who haven't returned home for a long time, are by my side, smiling brightly. The hands of the three of them are not on the table. Emperor Yongkun also has good eyesight at night with his internal strength. When he calms down, she is sitting on the table with two hands. Holding her two brothers one by one.
A little far away, the banquet venue was already lively, the generals were heroic, and they were even more energetic after winning the battle, and there were always heroic laughter and the sound of wine bowls colliding. Even the sound of music on one side was suppressed and became indistinct.
Emperor Yong Kun couldn't hear what she was saying to the two elder brothers beside him, his eyes were fixed on her lips, her mouth opened and closed, but she couldn't distinguish her words from a distance.
Just know that she is really happy.
Taking advantage of today's day, I am more happy than happy. Rewards for meritorious deeds, bestow marriages and titles.
This meeting should call the little girl over, so Emperor Yongkun came back with his mind back, and began to discuss meritorious deeds and rewards.
A series of rewards, between the collision of wine bowls, thank His Majesty for the rewards one after another.
The ladies present here are all the daughters of officials, and except for a few soldiers, most of them are from the aristocratic families in Beijing. They have not yet married or engaged in marriage. In fact, the families of the two parties who intend to marry have already contacted each other in private.
Taking advantage of today, letting Emperor Yongkun bestow a marriage is just another good thing for this marriage.
Therefore, after Emperor Yongkun bestowed marriages, basically the two people who were bestowed came out to kneel and kowtow together with their parents.
After the whole night, the atmosphere in the banquet hall was warm and hot.
The dishes served on Emperor Yongkun's table were all the best, and almost half of them went to Qingruo's table. Her two older brothers were there, so she was not afraid of her being overwhelmed.
Emperor Yong Kun took another look. These officers and men used to toast her two elder brothers and would also raise their glasses to her, knowing that Miss Gong was extremely favored by the Gong family, which gave her enough face. Secondly, her two elder brothers are right next to her, which is enough to respect her.
The more Emperor Yongkun drank, the more bitter the wine became.
Lifting the wine glass and getting up, De Zhi hurriedly followed with the wine jug.
Since it is a toast, it is necessary to toast the greatest hero first.
The Lord was nearly fifty years old, but it was the first time he was treated so courteously by Emperor Yongkun. His mind, which was a little dizzy from drinking, instantly sobered up, and he poured out the words of loyalty while holding the wine glass.
Why did the emperor's breath get colder and colder, so he stopped talking.
Emperor Yongkun immediately raised his head and gulped it down without saying a word. Without stopping at all, he walked to the side of the two military divisions.
The two military advisers are not as rough-headed as the general. Although they are still a little fuzzy, they probably know that the emperor didn't want to listen to them to show their loyalty. They simply drank the wine without saying a word of nonsense.
The coldness and sharpness in Emperor Yong Kun's eyes finally dissipated a little.
He raised his feet and walked towards the two elder brothers of the Gong family.
As soon as he got closer, Second Brother Gong's voice came clearly, "Xiao Ruo, Second Brother told you that Haoran is really good. He has been in the military camp for so many years. He has endured hardships and stands hard work. At home, the key is that he will be devoted to you in the future and will not mess around. And he promised me and my eldest brother that if he is really lucky to marry you, he will never take a concubine in his life... "
"Boom." Emperor Yongkun stopped in his tracks, De Zhi only heard a muffled sound coming from the palm of Emperor Yongkun.
Stepped forward and bowed slightly, "Your Majesty?"
Emperor Yong Kun squinted his eyes and adjusted his breathing, the gaze that stared at the back of Gong Er Ge's head could have killed him alive.
Let go of the palm, the white jade cup just now has been shattered into pieces by the internal force.
Dezhi swallowed his saliva, and Emperor Yongkun shook his palm again. The crumbs were crushed into rice cents with a clear sizzling sound, and dispersed with the wind at night. There was still wine in his palm, "Handkerchief."
De Zhi immediately took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and leaned over to hand it to him. Emperor Yong Kun took the handkerchief and wiped his hands carefully, but his eyes never left Qing Ruo's cheek, "Bring me a wine glass."
Qing Ruozai listened carefully to Second Brother Gong's words, tilted his head and smiled, "Second Brother, I don't want to get married yet."
Second Brother Gong clicked his tongue in disapproval, and was about to make a long speech.
Emperor Yongkun stepped forward with a wine glass, "Come on, two lovers, I would like to toast you."
Brother Gong and Second Brother Gong immediately stood up holding their wine glasses, "I'm afraid, I should respect Your Majesty."
Four people were at the table, and now the three of them got up, Qing Ruo also stood up, Dezhi was holding a tray with a wine glass on it, which was the same blue and white porcelain wine glass that Emperor Yongkun was holding now, "Miss Gong, there is sake in the glass."
Qing Ruo turned her head and nodded with a smile, took the wine glass, "Your Majesty, I respect you too."
Emperor Yong Kun looked at her tenderly, raised his hand across the table and touched her head, and said with a smile on his face, "Huh? What does the baby want to respect me?"
"..." This is Brother Gong.
"!?!" This is Second Brother Gong.
Qing Ruo smiled with crooked eyebrows, "There's no reason, just to show respect."
"Okay." Emperor Yongkun agreed, and brought his glass over to touch her, and his wine glass fell under Qing Ruo's glass.
"Xiao Ruo's respect, I will drink this cup with Xiao Ruo first." He raised his head and drank it down.
When Dezhi poured him wine, Emperor Yongkun held the wine glass with one hand, and squeezed her little face with the other, "Baby just take a sip."
"Hmm~" The little girl obediently agreed, and really only took a sip.
Emperor Yongkun turned to raise his glass to the Gong brothers.
The two of them still didn't react.
Emperor Yongkun said a few words on the scene and finished drinking.
Across the low table below, I leaned over and kissed Qingruo's forehead, "I'm going to toast the soldiers with wine, baby, be good, I'll come and take you back to Qingming Palace later."
Qing Ruo nodded, pulled his clothes and shook them, "Drink less."
Emperor Yongkun smiled brightly, "Okay."
The dazed Big Brother Gong and Second Brother Gong sat down and didn't ask anything. After all, the two are brothers, and they have a tacit understanding. A few eye contacts have already settled everything.
Brother Gong smiled, and then patted Qing Ruo's head, "Xiao Ruo, let's go home with my brothers tonight. Grandma got some cold two days ago and has been taking medicine for the past two days, thinking that you are in the palace. I didn't tell you something. It seems that I have a headache today, and my grandfather took care of my grandmother, so I didn't come."
"!!" Qing Ruo's eyes widened, and she pulled Brother Gong's clothes full of anxiety and distress, "Why didn't you tell me about such a big thing, how could you catch a cold, it's not serious."
Brother Gong patted her on the back to reassure her, "It was fine the past two days, but today grandma said that she had a headache. Isn't it because you are in charge of the reception banquet? There can be no mistakes."
Qing Ruo frowned, obviously upset and angry, "Let's go, go back to Gong Mansion first."
Mrs. Gong is getting old, and things like catching cold are not serious, but even a little ailment on the old man can become serious.
Qingruo got up, looked at the two brothers after thinking about it, and said, "After all, the brothers are also the protagonists today, so it's not good to leave first, and I will go back to Qingming Hall to pack some things. You and your colleagues say hello, and our palace will return later." See you at the door."
"Okay, you go, be careful."
Qing Ruo hurriedly took Ruyi Linglong back to Qingming Palace to pack her things.
Big Brother Gong and Second Brother Gong watched the time and left the banquet hall as well.
"Brother, the marriage between Xiao Ruo and Hao Ran should be done as soon as possible."
Big Brother Gong was silent, and spoke after a while, "I'm going to find my grandfather tonight, Xiao Ruo is here, you and grandma have a chat, it's best to keep her at home for a while."
"Okay." Second Brother Gong turned his head and glanced at the brightly lit banquet hall. The two of them had already walked a long way, but they could still feel the excitement there, and sighed softly, "Oh~"
Your Majesty is a good emperor, there is no denying it, but Qingruo is his sister, let alone not knowing how sincere Emperor Yongkun is now, even if he is very sincere, their Gong family does not want Xiao Ruo to spend the rest of his life in the harem.
The younger sister they held in their palms since they were young, even if they want to marry in the future, it will be another man who can hold her in their palms one by one.
His Majesty can give her a lot, but after all, he is the emperor first, and the ruler of the world first.
The Haoran that Second Brother Gong mentioned, his full name is Li Haoran, one of the four lieutenants, 24 this year, handsome, tall, and his smile is as bright as the morning sun. Reviews are excellent throughout the army.
24 years old, neither housekeeper nor concubine.
Although his family is from the north and his parents are no more than ordinary merchants, he is already a lieutenant general at nearly 24 years old and has a bright future. Obviously, he is the man most wanted to marry by girls in Kyoto, not one of them.
What's more, I gave such a promise of being a couple for a lifetime.
Emperor Yongkun felt his heart hurting his whole body.
I drank a glass of wine with Li Haoran and chatted briefly. Although he was born in an ordinary family, but Li Haoran has been in the military camp for a long time, and his every move is full of masculinity. Gentle but sharp eyes.
The eagle who has just spread its wings and soared will become an extraordinary person in the future.
Emperor Yongkun crushed another wine glass.
A circle of soldiers drank the wine and turned their heads to see that the Gong family's table was empty.
Emperor Yongkun frowned tightly, Dezhi had already asked, and his servant replied, "Miss Gong has returned to the Qingming Palace first, and the two generals seem to have left beforehand at home."
When Dezhi came back to report, he was aware of the problem and spoke very slowly.
Emperor Yongkun raised his hand, pinched the bridge of his nose, waved his hand, "Let the dark guards go to Qingming Hall to see."
The speed of the hidden guard was faster than the guards, but still a step slower. Only the servants were left in the Qingming Palace. Mrs. Gong was ill, and Ms. Gong was worried, so she went home with her brothers tonight.
"..."
It was inconvenient for the dark guard to show up at the banquet, and the news was reported to De Zhi first.
Dezhi turned his head to look at the emperor sitting on the high platform, and sighed, well, there is no need to prepare the wine glass now.
Sure enough, the emperor fell silent after listening. Then he stood up from the banquet first position.
Go directly to Qingming Hall.
It can be said that there are more rare treasures in the Qingming Hall than Emperor Yongkun's Qianlong Hall. Qing Ruo only took a few things away, and the Qingming Hall has hardly changed at all.
Emperor Yongkun waved his hand, motioning to the people kneeling to pay their respects, "Back down, all of you."
"It's Your Majesty."
The room became quiet, and Emperor Yongkun recruited secret guards, "I want specific and complete news from the Gong residence."
The dark guard took the order to leave.
Dezhi and Emperor Yongkun were in the room. He had followed Emperor Yongkun to this room countless times, and Dezhi was also familiar with him. He went to the tea room to make tea for Emperor Yongkun.
In the imperial palace, or in other words, the most expensive tribute tea in Jingheng is almost half of the government affairs hall and Qianlong hall, and half of Qingming hall, and she doesn't like it. If she likes it, it is estimated that the government affairs hall and Qianlong hall will be gone.
The teacup was placed on the table next to Emperor Yongkun, the emperor leaned against the back of the chair and closed his eyes without saying a word, and Dezhi also quietly retreated behind him.
I don't know how long the dark guard came back.
A cold and emotionless voice sounded in the room, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Mrs. Gong has indeed caught a cold, but it is not serious, and she is almost on the mend. The Gong family intends to marry Miss Gong and Lieutenant General Li, so Mrs. Gong and Mrs. Gong will be married tonight. Second Young Master Gong had a conversation in the room, and his condition became serious again. Eldest Young Master Gong and Shoufu Gong were in the study room. There were too many hidden guards in the study room, and the subordinates couldn't get close to hear clearly..."
Emperor Yongkun waved his hand, "Go down."
Emperor Yongkun was silent, he just raised the teacup and drank tea one by one. After drinking a cup of tea, he put down the teacup and got up to leave.
About to step out of the door, I remembered again, "Order someone to wash the teacup, be careful. Xiao Ruo really likes that set of teacups."
She doesn't like drinking tea, but she likes beautiful teacups.
The Qingming Hall is not far from the Imperial Garden, and the Ximei Garden behind the Imperial Garden is the tomb of Situ Xi.
Emperor Yongkun hadn't been there for a long time.
It's not that I forgot her, it's just that I have ghosts in my heart and I always feel guilty.
He is a man, but the promise he once made, he broke his promise, and he always felt that he had no face to go, and it seemed that he could escape if he didn't face it.
At the entrance of Ximei Garden, Dezhi stopped, and the guards following him also stopped.
A ring of plum trees surrounds her tombstone.
Emperor Yongkun walked over step by step, but all kinds of thoughts in his heart disappeared.
When he got close, he laughed lightly, "Xi'er, I'm here."
There are flowers, vegetables and fruits in front of the tombstone, but they have dried up after a long time.
Emperor Yongkun lifted his robe and sat down in front of the tombstone, raised his hand to touch the tablet, "I seem to want to say sorry to you again."
Finger down, he carved the stele himself, and the carving was not very good, stroke by stroke.
"I seem to be saying sorry to you all the time."
"At that time, I couldn't marry you, let you feel wronged, and said sorry to you. Later, you will marry someone else. sorry."
"Now, I have the world, I have the supreme power, and I still say sorry to you."
Emperor Yongkun leaned against the tombstone and closed his eyes. In his mind, Situ Xi was wearing a fiery red skirt, which was flying brightly. After that, she seemed to have never worn red. Time and him had worn away her former flamboyance.
He owes her, not only owes her a youth and a life, but also owes her many, many of the best feelings in the world. He loves her, but is timid and cowardly. When he talks about love, he still lets go in the face of power.
The love Situ Xi gave him was fearlessness.
And the love he gave her was shackles, imprisonment, and even a drag.
Emperor Yongkun used to be extremely firm, but in this life, there is no one else.
What's even more ridiculous now is that he can't bear to be clear.
He had thought about finding a good family for her, protecting her with his brother's family and relatives, and letting her do whatever she wanted in her life. And he, guarding his Xi'er.
What now
Emperor Yongkun twitched the corners of his mouth, closed his eyes and put his palm on the stone slab in front of the tombstone to caress, "Is there really a soul in this world? If there is, you will hate me to death when you see me like this."
"It was true that I loved you back then, and it was true that I wanted to treat you well for the rest of my life... Xi'er, blame me, but if I do it again, maybe my choice will still be the same."
The words had already started to become chaotic, as if he was facing the wind and the wine was getting stronger.
Emperor Yongkun smiled, "You will definitely ask, what if you change to Qingruo at that time? Change to Qingruo?"
Emperor Yongkun thought for a while, but did not continue.
Sitting quietly for a while, he raised his hand to touch the tombstone, "I'm leaving. I should have brought her here to see you in the future, but I thought you might be angry, forget it."
In this life, there was a woman who gave her best years and even her life completely for him. He will never forget.
Maybe he was still young at that time, or maybe he was cowardly and weak, he chose power instead of love.
Now, he can control everything in the palm of his hand, and he is high above without fear. It is his luck to meet someone he likes and wants to cherish.
He just wants to hold everything she likes in front of her, as long as she smiles.
**
Xi'er.
Sorry, but I won't call it that anymore.
The next life is too illusory, but I can only say,
If there is an afterlife, I will be desperate for you.
Forgive me, I can only comfort my guilty conscience like this.
Forgive me, it will belong to her completely in the future.