That night, the people withdrew across the Yellow River, and the Royal Forest Army returned to the south, and along the way, they retreated to the south of the Yangtze River. From Gyeonggi to Jiangnan, many people have resumed life, but there are very few people who cultivate the land, and there are almost ten rooms and nine empty spaces.
Zhao Chao made private visits along the way and learned about people's livelihood in the Central Plains. After crossing the Yangtze River, he was not in a hurry to go back to Maoxian County. He was invited by Youmiao to take a break in Jiangbo Villa.
That night was the Lantern Festival night. When You Miao returned, the whole villa shook. No one asked them how they were doing in the north.
Qiao Jue outlined the arrangements for the entire Shangyuan Festival. There were bright red lanterns in the villa, and a feast was held outside Shenyuan to entertain the tenants in the villa, so that people could eat freely.
You Miao asked the four of them to gather in the garden, but Zhao Chao said, "Why don't you, just have a meal with your parents and brothers. Let your sister come over at night. I won't talk about state affairs tonight, just talk about family friendship."
So Qiao Rong returned from Maocheng to Jiangbo Villa. The villa was decorated with lanterns and festoons.
When Qiao Rong appeared, there was a sensation in the whole villa, calling him the queen, and Zhao Chao went up and went on, changed into his regular clothes, and brought Qiao Rong into the villa. You Hange, Li Zhifeng, who has an official position, first greeted Zhao Chao. Next, it was the turn of Qiao Jue, You Miao, and Nie Dan, who had no official positions, to lead the Shen Yuan up and down, kneeling and kowtow to Zhao Chaosan.
"You can do whatever you want." Zhao Chao said: "No need to be more polite, Mr. You, Madam, please take a seat."
When did You Dechuan receive this honor? It was true that smoke was coming from the ancestral grave, and he was busy in the hall to accompany him, while Li Zhifeng went to make dinner with Qiao Jue for the Lantern Festival.
Qiao Rong glanced at You Miao and said, "You finally came back without missing an arm or a broken leg. Your brother-in-law heard that you were so courageous that you would run out halfway through the meal..."
You Miaosan smiled and said, "With Li Zhifeng and Big Brother Nie accompanying me, nothing will happen."
The banquet was lined up, and everyone sat at one table. Zhao Chao usually doesn't pay attention to the rules. This time he came to visit You Miao's family. We have returned with Li Zhifeng smoothly, the elder brother has also returned, and we are together again."
"It doesn't matter if you go back to the dynasty or not." Nie Dan said lightly, "But it's really worth having a drink when everyone gets together again. Her Majesty Nie Dan respects your majesty."
Nie Dan raised his glass, everyone felt a little embarrassed, but they also raised their glasses and drank.
Zhao Chao smiled towards You Dechuan and said, "Our country uncle likes to bury his head in doing things, but doesn't like to talk about it. It's all up to one's own preferences. One day, when I get tired and can't stand the pressure, I let go and go home. I can't help it. His, you can help me persuade him more when you have time."
"Hey!" You Dechuan said, "Why didn't you persuade him? I persuaded him all day long, and when he returned to the villa, he would not leave the door and walk again..."
When Qiao Rong saw You Dechuan chattering, she smiled and said, "Isn't Miaozi also in charge of housework at home. Are you concerned about state affairs?"
Everyone laughed, Zhao Chao glanced at Li Zhifeng again, Li Zhifeng didn't say anything, he just drank.
You Miao couldn't help laughing and crying. Seeing Zhao Chao and You Dechuan talking a few words, Zhao Chao said again: "Ziqian, when you come back this time, we have to make an agreement. Next year, the DPRK and China will be very busy. I am short of manpower. Anyway, you have to come back to me."
You Miao raised her eyes to look at Li Zhifeng, who happened to meet Li Zhifeng's eyes. After a brief silence, he had an idea in his heart - this year, Zhao Chao will definitely go on an expedition to the north. The Northern Expedition is related to Li Zhifeng's success or failure in recovering Quanrong, and he must return to the DPRK.
He was not sure whether Zhao Chao could persuade Nie Dan to return, but according to this momentum, Nie Dan had nowhere else to go except to return to the dynasty.
You Miao smiled and sighed: "My minister has not been able to help His Majesty to share his worries over the years. I really feel ashamed. Since His Majesty has passed it on, how dare this minister refuse to obey?"
Zhao Chao's face looked better now, and he said, "Not bad, let's eat."
This time, the people with Xi dared to use chopsticks. You Miao had something in her heart. When she came back at noon, she ate more, and couldn't eat too much for a while. Zhao Chao liked the dishes in Jiangbo Villa very much, and ate more. With the emperor here, everyone didn't dare to eat more, and when Qiao Rong saw this, she didn't want to blame so many people, so she smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the wife of the minister also ordered people to put wine in the garden, why don't you move it? How about walking in the garden, eating some private dishes, drinking some wine, and admiring the moon?"
Zhao Chao readily agreed, and the rest of the people knew that they had something to say, so they stood up to send the emperor off, You Miao nodded at Qiao Rong, Qiao Rong replied with a clear expression, and said, "Go, I haven't been together for a long time, especially It's Brother Nie."
Nie Dan and Qiao Rong were at the same table, which was also very embarrassing. Hearing that, he nodded and put down his chopsticks, and went to the garden with Li Zhifeng, You Miao, and Zhao Chao.
There is a table of Qiao Jue, a small dish specially made by Qiao Rong, and there are people playing the piano deep in the garden.
You Miao warmed the wine with her own hands, and poured it among several brothers. The long bright moon, the bright night, and the faint fragrance of the unfinished plum blossoms were really refreshing.
Zhao Chao suddenly moved when he heard the song, and said, "Your Qin Ji's skills are quite good. Call him out to see? I just want to reward him."
You Miao burst out laughing, and Li Zhifeng couldn't help laughing.
Li Zhifeng said: "There is no Qin Ji in Shenyuan, they are all servants who learn martial arts, just to entertain others."
Zhao Chao also laughed and said, "These days... I remember that my eldest brother played the qin very well. When I was a child, I went to the house and occasionally heard my eldest brother playing the qin. What about the eldest brother's qin?"
"I haven't touched it for a long time." Nie Dan took a sip of wine and said, "It's all lost in the chaos."
Zhao Chao nodded and said, "One day, we will all go back."
Nie Dan didn't answer this, and the scene was still very stiff. You Miao knew that this time, Zhao Chao was here for reconciliation. After all, Nie Dan had been imprisoned for several years before. . On the surface, none of them are smooth, but You Miao is the one who knows the most in his heart. In terms of friendship, Zhao Chao and Nie Dan have the deepest friendship.
Zhao Chao has been taught and supported by Nie Dan since he was a child. Since he was the third prince, he was bullied by the prince, and when he was still in Beijing, Nie Dan treated Zhao Chao as his own brother. It is precisely because of this that Nie Dan was so furious when the matter of the prince was revealed.
You Miao thought for a while, pretended to be curious, and said with a smile, "What are you playing?"
Zhao Chao smiled and said: "Everything, Yuefu, new songs... I remember when I was young, the turmoil was slow, and there were noises outside the Great Wall... I went to the elder brother's house to read the military book every morning, and practiced martial arts in the afternoon. I was not allowed to eat dinner when I was a child. Just let me have one drink at night, not more."
Nie Dan replied indifferently: "When you are in the army, you are mistaken in drinking, so you are naturally not allowed to drink too much."
Zhao Chao said again: "Big brother."
Nie Dan looked at Zhao Chao, and Zhao Chao said again: "I know that I have disappointed you over the years."
You Miao and Li Zhifeng stopped talking and looked at Zhao Chao quietly. Zhao Chao poured a glass of wine and put it in front of Nie Dan, and said, "I apologize to you, that year I led an expedition to Goryeo with 200,000 people on an expedition. , there are only 84,000 people who have returned, and it is you who made it clear for me in front of the father and emperor, cleaned up the mess for me, took over the remnants, and went out to fight on my behalf."
Nie Dan looked at Zhao Chao, Zhao Chao sighed again, and said, "You told me when you were a child that you fought for the apocalypse, and now I am about to send troops to the north, I implore you, put aside your old grudges, and stand by my side again. , to recover half of the mountains and rivers in the north."
Nie Dan was silent, just not raising his glass, Zhao Chao stared at Nie Dan blankly.
"This glass of wine." Nie Dan said, "I will drink it after I return from victory."
"Then I'll give you a toast." Li Zhifeng said: "To you, to the third brother, Ziqian."
Li Zhifeng broke the deadlock, You Miao hurriedly raised her glass, Nie Dan finally picked up the glass, You Miao smiled and said, "May everything go smoothly in the future."