In the late spring, the grass grows and the warbler flies, and the light rain falls everywhere, and even the flowers are beaten into a wet red. The whole small town is filled with the fragrant smell unique to spring, and it seems that even the wind and sand are smaller.
The rain dripped down the eaves, causing small puddles on the bluestone slabs. A small drop of clear splashed up, it seemed to be pitiful and lovely. In the birdcage hanging on the beam, the chirping of the oriole, the crisp cry mixed with the sound of rain, is even more beautiful than the sound of the best musicians.
At the end of the corridor, a young girl came running in a hurry. This girl snorted in a peach pink embroidered long horse skirt. The color was bright and cute, but she was holding the corners of the skirt with both hands and hurriedly rushing towards this end, which was a bit funny. Her wheat-colored skin, lively and naughty, shouted while rushing: "Little cousin! Little cousin!"
"Sister, slow down!" the boy behind him shouted loudly: "The ground is slippery, be careful to fall!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the lively girl who was running in front stumbled and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, she had some martial arts by her side, and she stabilized her body with a tap of her toes. Angrily, he turned his head and complained to the boy, "Luo Qian, shut your crow's mouth!"
Luo Qian stuck out his tongue, and two slender figures appeared behind Luo Qian, and a dissatisfied voice sounded: "Luo Tan, be careful that you won't get married like this."
"Brother Sa!" Luo Tan stomped her feet anxiously, "If I can't get married again, I'll marry Cousin Qiu!"
Luo Qian sneered and laughed: "Cousin Qiu will not like you, a tigress."
"Luo Qian!" Luo Tan gestured to hit him.
"Okay, don't make trouble." But the gentle young man who walked at the end smiled and said, "Aren't you going to talk to my cousin, go in."
After playing around, they went to the innermost yard, and saw Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang playing with flowers and plants outside. Seeing them, they hurriedly said, "The girl is waiting for you in the house."
Luo Tan lifted the curtain of the house and called out, "Little cousin!"
There was no incense in the room, but I don't know where the maid found a few branches of jasmine, and the room was filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers. Sitting in front of the window was a young girl. The girl was dressed in a dark daisy brocade robe, with a purple-tipped emerald skirt on her lower body. It was originally a very dark color, but she didn't look old-fashioned at all, but made her skin look like creamy jade. as transparent. The light rain in front of the window was pattering, she heard the movement and raised her head slightly, revealing a beautiful face.
The eyes are black, the eyebrows are even Juanjuan, and the red lips and teeth are as intoxicating as the crescent moon. Strange to say, this girl's appearance is very delicate, as if the morning sun reflects the snow, but the eyebrows are gentle and smooth, but there is a sense of grace. He seems to be someone who can hold his own. Under that peaceful demeanor, if you look closely, there seems to be a hardness that is completely different from her appearance. He looks weak but is very strong.
She smiled sideways, her eyes were bright, but her heart trembled, as if she smiled casually, this simple study became a palace of carved jade, and she was sitting on a high seat The noble man looked at the crowd with a faint downward gaze.
Several people at the door were slightly startled. Even if I have seen it many times, I am occasionally surprised by the inadvertent elegance of this girl. The ghosts lingered in the gestures, probably talking about this principle.
After being stunned for a while, Luo Tan was the first to react. She rushed in with a flick of her hand and said, "Little cousin, your dress is so beautiful!"
After all, it is a girl's family, no matter how naughty and naughty he is on weekdays, his love for beauty is still the same. Shen Miao smiled slightly, "If you like it, let the tailor do it again."
Luo Tan pouted, "I can't wear this color, I can only be greedy." She looked at Shen Miao and sighed, "No wonder the young masters of Xiaochuncheng spend all day with Brother Ling and the others to inquire about you, little cousin, You really look better the longer you get."
This is the seventy-first year of Ming Qi. Two years have passed and in the two years, Shen Miao is also growing slowly. The slightly childish face gradually showed a delicate outline, and even the lovely facial features appeared delicate. It's just that the gentle temperament has not changed, and it has even become smoother. The temperament of walking on the road caused people to turn back frequently, no wonder Luo Ling and Luo Sa’s usual brothers secretly inquired about Shen Miao’s marriage in private.
After all, although there are beauties in Xiaochun City, there are no such beauties with unique and outstanding temperament.
“That is the little cousin who doesn’t care who it is.” Luo Qian stepped forward proudly, resting one hand on the desk in front of Shen Miao, and said, “Little cousin, do you know that Your Majesty has sent money to him again.”
“Have you been rewarded?” Shen Miao said while putting away the books on the table. Luo Qian's eyes were sharp, and when he saw the name of the book, he said strangely, ""The Chronicles of the Qin Country"
“Just look at it at will.” Shen Miao replied indifferently.
Luo Sa's eyes flickered slightly, Luo Ling stared at Shen Miao and said softly, "There have been countless rewards in the past year, but recently the rewards are too frequent, why does the little cousin think this is the case?"
He very naturally approached Shen Miao for advice, as if he did not think there was anything worth embarrassing about seeking advice from a girl much younger than himself. Of course, the four juniors in this room would not laugh at her, how much ability Shen Miao has is a question worth exploring. However, the four of them tacitly did not tell the elders of the Luo family about Shen Miao's mystery, as if they firmly believed that even if Shen Miao had any secrets, they would definitely not harm the Luo family.
“If things are abnormal, they will become demons.” Shen Miao said, “The Son of Heaven is very suspicious, Luo family army rises rapidly and will only suppress it quietly, but frequent rewards seem to be famous. That is to ask for something,” she pondered: “ Your Majesty asks for the Luo family army, or deliberately elevates the status of the Luo family army, as for what you ask for, Ming Qi's tribute is about to begin."
Everyone was stunned, Luo Tan touched her chin and said, "It seems so."
“When Ming Qi pays tribute, Qin State and Great Liang will both come, Qin State and Ming Qi are evenly matched and Great Liang is far superior to Ming Qi, so His Majesty will also be afraid.” Shen Miao said calmly, “The Shen family army is not there and the Xie family army is seriously injured. , Ming Qi has no military generals in the country, how can this be done?"
"That's why His Majesty wants to lift up the Luo family to deter Qin and the Liang Dynasty!" Luo Tan replied swiftly.
Shen Miao nodded.
“So that’s the case…” Luo Qian said, and looked at Shen Miao with some admiration. He was clearly the same age as himself, but Luo Qian always had a feeling that Shen Miao seemed to be much older than him, even more mature and stable than Luo Ling. Shen Miao would never shy away from the analysis of the imperial forces, compared to the euphemisms and tangled words the elders said, Shen Miao seemed to be much more ruthless and direct, such as the Son of Heaven was suspicious, the elders would never say anything. The juniors of the Luo family like to play with Shen Miao and sincerely accept her, naturally because there is something very attractive about Shen Miao. Perhaps the people in Ding capital were more knowledgeable than the people in Xiaochun City and Shen Miao could always know some things that they did not know.
"It's not necessarily a good thing." Luo Sa frowned: "The higher you hold it, the more painful it will be to fall."
“Not bad.” Shen Miao said, “But it is also an opportunity.”
"What kind of opportunity does my cousin think it is?" Luo Ling asked with a smile.
"The Luo Family Army has managed to improve a little in the past two years, and Your Majesty wants to support it. Although the greater the merit, the more dangerous it is, but the Luo Family Army already has the strength not to be bullied. The Luo Family Army trained in the past two years is all led by the Luo Family. Not the Son of Heaven. This is the Luo family's own military strength, not Ming Qi's. Your Majesty is supporting the people of the Luo family, as long as you insist on this."
There is no king's land under the whole world, and there is no king's ministers on the shore of leading the land, but Shen Miao clearly divided the Luo family and Ming Qi into two. If Luo Sui heard it, he would faint in anger. Such outrageous words are clearly preparing for rebellion. But the Luo family's juniors heard that, although they were surprised, they didn't feel angry.
Unlike their predecessors, the Luo family was already in a state of desperation when the younger members of the Luo family were born. The royal family did not allocate money and forgot the Luo family army in the small borderlands. The younger generations were not without complaints. The more resentment, the less obvious the loyalty of the king.
After a moment of silence, a frenzy appeared in Luo Sa's eyes, and he said, "Little cousin said it very well." His temper was violent and impulsive, completely different from Luo Ling's gentleness, and he rarely praised someone on weekdays. At this moment, he was bragging, obviously agreeing with Shen Miao's words.
Luo Ling should be calmer, but even so, he did not object.
Luo Qian and Luo Tan had a lively temperament and were convinced by Shen Miao's words for no reason, and they did not say anything bad immediately. So this reward from Emperor Wen Hui, the Luo family's juniors almost tacitly reached a consensus: it is a good thing, and there is no need to discourage it.
"Speaking of which," Luo Tan leaned on the table and looked at Shen Miao, "Little cousin is now sixteen, one of my sisters came to ask me yesterday, do you have a marriage partner, if not, look at her How is your brother. Little cousin, do you want to meet me?"
Xiaochun City's folk customs are open and simple. If there is a girl you like, you can ask through relatives and friends. Luo Qiandao: "What nonsense is this, little cousin is only sixteen and not in a hurry, but you are eighteen, why don't you worry about yourself?"
"What should I be worried about?" Luo Tan shook her hair: "I'm so beautiful and smart, even when I'm eighty, someone will propose a marriage. I'm not worried about my little cousin, who looks so soft and weak. It’s not enough to be missed all day long, so it’s better to find someone to protect her now. Luo Qian, no matter how rude you are, I’m sure no girl will marry you in the future!”
"Who said no girl would marry me?" Luo Qian said in disbelief, "Isn't there a little cousin? The little cousin has a good heart. When that day comes, she will definitely marry me and help me out, right? ?" He shyly stepped forward.
Luo Tan slapped his face away and said, "I don't want to pee and see what I look like. My little cousin really wants to get married, so Brother Ling and Brother Sa haven't got married yet? Who is better than you? If you don't believe me, ask Brother Ling and Brother Sa if they want to marry their little cousin?"
Luo Ling was stunned, his face turned slightly red, Luo Sa also coughed twice, don't look away, the atmosphere was a little embarrassing for a while.
Luo Tan didn't realize it, she held her chin with a smile and asked: "Little cousin, after all, what kind of man do you like? A handsome man? A lot of money? Good martial arts? Can you write poetry?"
Shen Miao looked at Luo Tan, although the three men in the room were looking at other places, their ears were erect. Shen Miao said, "Can you beat my eldest brother?"
"Bang!" Luo Qian slipped and fell down, shouting aggrieved: "No, no, Cousin Qiu is so good at martial arts, who can compare to him!"
…
Coincidentally, one end was talking about Shen Miao's crush, and the other end was talking about Shen Miao's marriage.
In the hut, Ma Shi, Yu Shi and Luo Xue Yan were talking. Unlike the Shen residence in the Ding capital, the concubines of the Luo family get along very well. The Yu family was gentle, the Ma family was fiery, and Luo Xueyan was even more of a military commander.
Holding a post in his hand, Mrs. Yu said to Luo Xueyan, "This is a post from Mrs. Zhang in the city. When should we go to Zhang's residence?" After speaking here, he hesitated for a while, and then said again. : "I have to bring Jiaojiao with me."
When Ma Shi heard the words, she laughed, and she said, "I said that Madam Zhang looked down on us warriors because of the fact that she was out of the house. It's because the drunkard's intention is not to drink, but to come to see Jiaojiao." Ma slapped Luo Xueyan with his arm: "Little aunt, this Jiaojiao has more face than our father now."
As Shen Miao grew older and became more beautiful, many people from Xiaochuncheng came to inquire about Shen Miao's marriage. Before, everyone didn't know that the girl in Dingjing had a personality. Thinking about the rumors before, I was afraid that she was a big lady. Who would have known that Shen Miao's temperament has been calm and smooth for the past two years, compared to those impetuous little girls, it was very much to the appetite of those ladies. Especially the warm and generous bearing made one couldn't help thinking that if Shen Miao became the master of the house, she would definitely be able to calm down the house. In addition, Shen Miao was also good looking and the Luo family was well-known in Xiaochun City. After the Luo family's army was revived in the past two years, the Luo family was even more of a sweet and sweet family, and the matchmakers were almost breaking the threshold of the Luo family.
Speaking of which, Ma Shi was half jealous and half envious: "It's really good that there are women in a family asking for it, it's not like our family Tan'er, really, such a big girl is doing nonsense all day long. Don't talk about it. I’m here to ask for marriage, and there’s not even a matchmaker, so if it goes on like this, why don’t you want to be an old girl at home?” Ma Shi was just joking, but who knows how worried he will be after that.
Luo Xueyan persuaded: "Tan'er has a lively temperament, that's really good. There will always be someone suitable for you, what is your sister-in-law anxious about? It's Jiaojiao, you are only sixteen years old, how can you look older than sixty years old. The wife is even more serious, her temper is not like me, nor her father, and I don't know who it is."
"Little aunt, what's wrong with you?" Ma was unable to laugh or cry: "There aren't many girls like Jiaojiao now. Look at her graceful body, who doesn't say she's full of extravagance when she sits there. If you want me to tell you, then It's the empress in the palace, I'm afraid she doesn't have such a style. So Jiaojiao's bearing is innate."
"Not bad." The Yu family also praised: "I have stayed in Xiaochun City with my younger brother and sister for so many years, and those old people from aristocratic families have no such bearing as Jiaojiao."
Luo Xueyan shook her head and sighed. It's good to be obedient and sensible, but with such a young temperament, it makes people feel a little worried. Luo Xueyan would rather that Shen Miao had a cheerful disposition like Luo Tan, who looked lively but was as lively as a young girl should be.
"Speaking of which," Mrs. Yu said sternly, "Jiaojiao is now Fang Sixteen. If she doesn't return to the capital, she will get married sooner or later. Is there a suitable candidate in my heart? Jiaojiao used to be young, but now she is sixteen. , It should be the age that can be said to be close, and now everyone in Xiaochuncheng wants to marry Jiaojiao and go home, so there is no one I like?"
Luo Xueyan was stunned for a moment, she was used to being carefree, and being with Shen Xin in the past was also her own bold and active choice. It's not like asking people to see each other like a normal woman, but I haven't thought about it. Hearing Yu said this at first glance, he was a little stunned. After a while, Luo Xueyan said, "This depends on what Jiaojiao means."
"A girl like Jiaojiao, ma'am, are you really willing to marry her?" Ma sighed, "She is so smart without being annoyed, and her temperament is very painful. If it were me, I would definitely not want her to marry and support her for the rest of my life. It's also true." Different from the noble family in Ding capital, the people of Xiaochun City don't think that the sooner their daughter's family gets married, the better, on the contrary, they feel that the longer their daughter's family stays in the mansion, the more delicate they will be. Ma said, "Speaking of which, Brother Ling and Brother Sa are also at the age to marry, or... Jiaojiao will marry into our own family?" Ma asked tentatively.
She had a whim, but Yu shi's eyes lit up when she heard the words, and it was the first time she couldn't wait to speak, "That's true! I think Brother Ling and Brother Sa like Jiaojiao very much. Yes, especially Brother Sa, you all know that Brother Sa is usually impatient with girls, but he has been running to Jiaojiao's room for the past two years. Their cousins have a very good relationship. My own son, I Clearly, Brother Sa definitely likes Jiaojiao in his heart."
Luo Xueyan opened her mouth, but before she could speak, she saw Yu Shi and shook her head again: "But Brother Sa has an impulsive temper and doesn't know how to hurt others. If Jiaojiao gets married, I'm afraid she will be wronged, and that kid is an elm again. Wooden head. Brother Ling is still better. Brother Ling has a gentle temperament and is older. Their cousins and sisters went on a trip together last time. Speaking of which, there are many people who have kissed Brother Ling in the past few years, but Ling Brother Ling didn't like him, so I can't say anything about him. Brother Ling must also like Jiaojiao, otherwise he would talk to Jiaojiao if he didn't leave the army."
Mrs. Yu said so self-consciously, Mrs. Ma on the side was not happy, and said not to be outdone: "Sister-in-law, how can you count like this? According to you, our family's Qian'er and Jiaojiao are still the same age. They are about the same age. I played well on weekdays. Although Qian'er is a bit naughty, she is better at being caring. The friendship with Jiaojiao is the best. And our family Tan'er, Tan'er and Qiu Ge'er are not exactly the same. Right, if that's the case, it's more than a kiss!" After speaking, Ma looked at Luo Xueyan: "Little aunt, what do you think?"
Luo Xueyan: "..."
Two pairs of earnest eyes looked at her, and Luo Xueyan said bravely, "It depends on what the children mean..." She didn't expect that Yu and Ma would actually think this way, but Luo Xueyan thought about it carefully, but she didn't think so. feel bad. First of all, they are all from their own family, but the juniors of the Luo family are all uncharacteristic, and they are all well-behaved. It was exactly what she liked "The officials do not need to be too big, the money does not need to be too much, the most important thing is to be good to Shen Miao and take Shen Miao to heart". She also lived from the side of the Huaichun girl, not to mention Shen Qiu, the sons of the Luo family, Luo Ling was gentle, Luo Sa brave, Luo Qian cheerful, the most important thing was to be kind-hearted, if Shen Miao Get well with anyone, and the days to come will only be sweet and not bitter.
However, Luo Xueyan had to see what Shen Miao meant. She did not know what Shen Miao liked, originally she knew that Shen Miao liked Fu Xiu Yi like that, but in the past two years, Shen Miao never mentioned Fu Xiu Yi at all and she gradually felt relieved. But her own daughter had such a dull temperament, and Luo Xueyan was also worried.
"Would you like to find a time to ask Jiaojiao's meaning?" Ma hurriedly said, "If Jiaojiao can really like one of our family, no matter who it is, our Luo family will burn Gaoxiang's luck. The marriage should be done early, the son will be smart, and the daughter will be beautiful."
Luo Xueyan was a little embarrassed by what she said, and said angrily, "Sister-in-law, how can the youngest get married first."
Ma Shi waved his hand: "I'm not afraid that Jiaojiao will be taken first."
Just as he was talking and laughing, he suddenly saw the doorman coming to report: "Madam, there is a message from the palace, and the general asked the ladies to hurry to the front hall."
"The people in the palace didn't just leave, why are they here again? Have you given a reward?" Ma asked casually as he stood up.
"It seems to want Uncle Shen to return to Beijing." The servant replied.
Luo Xueyan's movement froze when she got up.
…
Luo's front hall was a mess.
It's not that the people in the hall are messed up, but the people are messed up. An imperial decree from Emperor Wen Hui, asking Shen Xin to bring his family back to Beijing and renew the name of the mighty general. He also said that he would return the Tiger Talisman of the Shen Family Army to Shen Xin.
Emperor Wen Hui slapped Shen Xin in front of the whole world two years ago, and now he has made such a big gesture for Tianzao to eat. But whether Shen Xin would like to eat the sweet dates is another matter.
Luo Sui sat on the high seat. In the past two years, because of the reorganization of the Luo family army, he has been worried a lot, and his temples have more gray hair. However, his prestige has not diminished in the past. Perhaps because of his fighting spirit, he looked more brave. He said: "Ming Qi's tribute is about to begin. The emperor asked you to return to Beijing to get you before the tribute."
A hundred years of tribute, a dynasty will pay tribute every hundred years, the tribute before the Ming Qi era was almost taken advantage of by the Qin state. At that time, the old emperor relied on the Xie family and the Shen family to barely get through. Now, in addition to Qin, even the Liang Dynasty has come.
If the Qin state only made Ming Qi jealous, then the Great Liang Dynasty would be enough to make Ming Qi. Great Liang is located in the south, the country is prosperous, the army is strong and the army is strong, and Emperor Yongle is a generation of Mingjun. Appoint people on their merits, and there are more loyal and righteous people. If Great Liang had ambitions, it would be a matter of time to annex Ming Qi, but Emperor Yong Le did not know why, and it seemed that he had not made such an attempt for so many years. Of course, there is another possibility that Emperor Yongle wants to destroy Qin and Ming Qi together and unify the world.
If the world is divided for a long time, it will be united for a long time, and the days when the three kingdoms of Qin, Liang and Qi are divided will eventually be broken. It's just that I don't know when that day will come. Emperor Wen Hui obviously doesn't want to see this day when he is alive. However, since the death of Xie Jing Xing, Xie Ding has no intention to govern. Only the rest of the Shen family was also taken away from the tiger talisman and rushed to Xiaochun City.
No one knows whether Emperor Wen Hui regretted it or not, but at the moment, Emperor Wen Hui hopes that Shen Xin can support the situation. Especially Shen Xin helped Luo Sui to reorganize the abandoned Luo family army, which made people see Shen Xin's outstanding ability to lead troops even more.
Emperor Wenhui was expressing a meaning: Ming Qi needed Shen Xin.
Show up when you need it, and leave it when you don't need it. Maybe Shen Xin in the past had such a consciousness, but Shen Xin, who was treated ruthlessly by the royal family, might not be so selfless anymore. If a scholar dies for a confidant, can the royal family of Ming Qi be considered a confidant
"You should go back." Luo Sui said, "Shen Xin, take back everything you lost. Show them what the son-in-law of the Luo family and the son of the Shen family are like."
Shen Miao raised her head suddenly.
She expected that Emperor Wen Hui would summon Shen Xin back to Beijing again two years later, and also expected that the situation in the Ding capital would undergo earth-shaking changes, but she did not expect that the always old-fashioned and dignified General Luo would say something a little outrageous. .
She opened her eyes slightly, and this look fell into Luo Sui's eyes, but Luo Sui smiled, looked at her, and said, "Girl, you think so too, am I right?"
The eyes of everyone in the hall fell on Shen Miao. Luo Lianying and Luo Liantai's expressions moved slightly, but in the end they didn't say anything.
Shen Miao sighed in her heart, her dao behavior could not be concealed from Luo Sui, a veteran who has been in power for many years. Luo Sui has a pair of eyes that read the world. Perhaps from the very beginning, from the beginning of the reorganization of the Luo Family Army, he had vaguely guessed what she was planning.
She thanked Luo Sui for her trust and support. It felt good to have her family behind her. Shen Miao looked at Luo Sui and curved the corners of her mouth, "Yes, Grandpa."
Luo Sui laughed out loud, Luo Ling looked at Shen Miao with a smile floating in his eyes, Luo Sa also twitched the corners of his mouth. Luo Tan and Luo Qian looked at each other, a little confused.
Luo Xueyan and Shen Qiu's eyes were complicated. They had been away from the Ding capital for two years, and now... are they going back
Get back what was lost? Strength, power, fame, and dignity.
Let them see what the real Shen family is like. A tiger will not become a dog just because it falls off a cliff, and a dragon that swims in the water will one day soar for nine days.
Shen Xin bowed his hands to Luo Sui and said, "Listen to the general's teachings!"