The two of them made a scene on the bed for a long time, until Yang Haiyan was pressed down by him and her whole body was in pain. She protested unbearably, and Qin Fang let her go. Although he let her go, Qin Fang turned over and hugged her tightly: "Yan Yan, you are seventeen years old this year." He always remembered that by this time next year, they would be able to have their wedding night. But just thinking about it, he felt uncomfortable down there. This little girl was born to torture him.
After lying in bed for a long time, and waiting until Qin Fang calmed down a little, they slowly got up.
For breakfast, they had fish porridge. The fish was a New Year gift from Han Zhen and Yang Dahua yesterday. To be able to get fish on this day, it must have been bought at a high price, or Han Zhen had caught it by himself by breaking ice in the river. But it was probably the latter. They sent quite a few fish and a chicken, one as a New Year gift, and the other as a thank you to Yang Haiyan for taking care of Yang Dahua during those days.
Between friends and relatives, we should pay attention to reciprocity and not take advantage of others blindly.
After breakfast, Yang Haiyan started making a tiger doll. She first drew the tiger's appearance on the cloth, and then embroidered it. Yang Haiyan couldn't draw a real tiger, so she could only take shortcuts and draw a Q version of a little tiger.
After drawing the tiger, she began to embroider. After both sides were embroidered, she stuffed cotton into it. In ancient times, cotton was expensive and hard to buy. So she made a little tiger doll, about 40 cm tall, and used a little cotton, so it would not look extravagant. After she finished it, she thought about it and remembered the modern backpack, which is basically the book basket that ancient scholars carried. So she made two straps on the tiger's body, so that it can be used as a backpack decoration, which is very suitable for a boy of the young master's age.
By the afternoon, Yang Haiyan had finished.
While Yang Haiyan was making the doll, Qin Fang was reading a book on the side. Seeing her rubbing her neck after she finished, he stood up and walked behind her: "I'll do it."
Yang Haiyan let go of her hand: "Thank you, husband."
It’s the first time Qin Fang massages and rubs your shoulders. He doesn’t know how much strength to use, so he uses it lightly at first: “Is this okay?”
Yang Haiyan: "It's too light, a little heavier."
"How about this?"
"A little harder."
"so… "
"It hurts, be gentler, be gentler... It feels so good, yes, yes, that's it, husband, you are great."
Nanny Lian and several other maids were outside. Listening to the suspicious voices inside, they blushed unconsciously even though they were quite old. They also thought to themselves that it was a good thing that there were no young maids at home, only old ladies like them.
After a while, Yang Dahua came, accompanied by Han Zhen.
Yang Dahua showed her embroidered flower doll to Yang Haiyan to get her opinion. Yang Dahua's embroidered flowers are all pretty good, or in other words, simple things like flowers cannot reflect a person's embroidery skills. Of course, if the embroidery skills are particularly good, that can also be reflected.
Yang Dahua is not good at embroidery, but the flowers are vivid and lifelike, which is due to her careful work. She embroidered the branches and leaves of the flowers, making them look more delicate.
When Yang Dahua saw the little tiger puppet and two shoulder straps embroidered by Yang Haiyan, she also prepared to make two: "These shoulder straps look like book baskets for students."
Yang Haiyan: “That’s what I think.”
County town, Yonghe Marquis Mansion.
"The Marquis is back... The Marquis is back..."
The prince was delighted to see his father coming back, and hurried out to greet him: "Father is back."
Yonghe Hou is 42 years old this year. He has a 26-year-old prince at his age, which shows that he married and had children at an early age. Yonghe Hou married and had children early because the old lady of the Hou Mansion was worried about his offspring. If something happened on the battlefield... Therefore, Yonghe Hou married and had children early.
Yonghe Marquis was very strong, unlike the gentle and refined Crown Prince, who looked like the Marquis’ wife. He had just returned from the capital, exhausted, and as soon as he came back, he said to the Crown Prince, “Come to the study.” On December 23, as soon as something happened in the Marquis’ mansion, the Crown Prince sent someone to deliver a message to Yonghe Marquis in the capital. Upon receiving the message, Yonghe Marquis rushed back overnight. He never thought that such a big thing would happen during the time he was away from Yongzhou.
The father and son entered the kitchen, and Yonghe Hou said, "Sit down."
The prince sat down nervously: "Yes."
Marquis Yonghe glanced at him. He had taught his son diligently. His son was good at martial arts and upright. He was never afraid on the battlefield and could kill the enemy at the age of twelve. "What exactly happened about the barbarians kidnapping Wang Tao?" Ni Wangtao was the young master's name.
The prince said, "It was because I didn't manage the palace well that the barbarians got in."
Yonghe Hou shook his head and said, "If the barbarians want to sneak in, they will find thousands of ways to do it. You can't prevent them. Tell me what happened this time."
The prince spoke slowly and calmly: "Yes... this is what happened..."
Yonghe Hou didn't say anything for a long time after hearing this. When the prince was about to ask, he spoke up, "You did nothing wrong in this matter. As a border guard, no matter what happened at home, you must not lose sight of the military camp. You ordered the people in the mansion to search extensively, causing the barbarians to be nervous, secretly asked Xiao Ao and Qin Fang to search again, and went to guard the military camp yourself. This was indeed not wrong."
The prince listened and was happy to get his father's approval: "So what does father mean?"
Yonghe Hou continued: "What about the back?"
The prince continued, "The barbarian stayed in the county town for three days before leaving. During these three days, Wang Tao's life was in danger at any time, so... I remember my father taught me that when two countries go to war, they must not hurt the elderly, the weak, women and children. However, I can't just sit there and watch Wang Tao get into danger. So, I sent my confidant to the barbarian tribe. If Wang Tao is really captured by them and threatens the border, I will have a hostage in my hand. Although this is a despicable move, it is a tit-for-tat.
However, my son did not tell General Ao, Qin Fang and others about this matter. After all... it is not a glorious thing. "
Yonghe Hou nodded: "It's good to treat them in their own way and be prepared to fight back. What else?"
Prince: "Secondly, I chopped off the barbarian's head and hung it at the gate of the military camp. It seems that the matter is over, so that everyone thinks that I have vented my anger. But in fact, I have sent some people to secretly approach the barbarian camp. In the eyes of the barbarians, we are celebrating the New Year, but they... are just waiting for the beginning of the year for my order to act. I plan to catch them off guard."
Yonghe Hou listened, nodded and shook his head: "Actually, there is a better plan for this matter. Of course, this is just my idea, and perhaps my plan is not as good as yours. Do you want to listen to it?"
The prince was curious: "Son, I am all ears."
Marquis Yonghe: "My plan is that you have captured the barbarians and they won't know about it at all. At this time, if you disguise yourself as the barbarians and take their identity documents or identity symbols, you can sneak into the barbarian camp at night. It will be more convenient to attack them then. But this is also dangerous. If they are discovered, it will be difficult for these people to escape." However, Marquis Yonghe is famous for being tough and ruthless. If it were him, he would choose his own plan. Once successful, the barbarians would suffer great trauma.
The prince: "I will think about father's plan."
Yonghe Hou: "There is one more thing. When I met the new emperor this time, although His Majesty did not take away my military token, nor did he mention the military token, he did mention something to me in a veiled way. He will send a few people to Yongzhou, and then the captains of the barracks will definitely make some moves. As for who to move, we will discuss it later and wait for the emperor's decree."
Upon hearing this, the prince frowned and said, "Is the emperor going to insert his own people into Yongzhou? If the emperor sends people, it is hard to say whether those people can be controlled. I am afraid that they will slowly infiltrate the military camp. By then... the Yongzhou military camp will belong to the emperor."
Yonghe Marquis sighed, "We all understand what the emperor meant. This is good. At least the military power was not taken back, which saved the face of our mansion. Our Ni family has been guarding here for generations. Since Yongzhou is quite far from the capital, we have never participated in the fight for the throne. Maybe we can make some moves and let our Ni family return to the capital."
The prince thought about it and suddenly had an idea: "If the emperor is willing to let his people infiltrate Yongzhou and subdue Yongzhou's troops, then let Wang Tao follow the literary work."
Yonghe Hou hesitated for a moment: "Let's wait until the emperor's people arrive." Yonghe Hou Mansion abandoned martial arts and turned to literature, and he was still a little reluctant, "Okay, you can leave first."
"yes."
The prince returned to the courtyard and saw his wife talking to the children. He immediately put away his annoyance. As long as his wife was safe, this was enough.
After the first day of the new year, the second day came, and in the blink of an eye it was the third day.
That day, Qin Fang and Han Zhen rode horses, Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua rode in a donkey cart, and Nanny Lian followed. The driver of the donkey cart was Kun Shi.
The closer she got to Yonghe Marquis's Mansion, the more nervous Yang Dahua became. For example, when she was still in Yang's Mansion, she would not be nervous when she went to other people's homes. Because she was a maid at that time, she just followed her husband. However, she did not have the opportunity to go to other people's homes. Now, she is Han Zhen's daughter-in-law, and she is worried about embarrassing Han Zhen, so she is nervous.
Yang Dahua looked at Yang Haiyan next to her and saw that she looked calm.
Yang Haiyan was indeed not nervous. After the banquet at General Ao's Mansion, she was not nervous at all about going to Yonghe Marquis' Mansion. However, she did not like going to Yonghe Marquis' Mansion, or rather, she did not like walking around. She did not like the ancient bureaucracy, the ancient class divisions, and the system of having to perform formalities when meeting someone. This was the reason why she did not pick any palace maids at the pawnshop.
She was not from ancient times, and she did not want to be associated with the imperial rulers. It would be better for Qin Fang to be a captain of a thousand men in peace and stability. In Yongzhou, he would have some power. When he was old enough, he could retire and return to Qin Fang's hometown to be a master. For a soldier like him who retired from the border and had the rank of an imperial officer, it would be too comfortable to return to the countryside.
The donkey cart stopped, and a strange voice was heard saying, "Captain Qin, Captain Han, you are finally here."
Qin Fang and Han Zhen dismounted, and Qin Fang said, "Captain Cheng." Qin Fang knew this Captain Cheng, he was the prince's confidant. On that day, it was this prince's confidant who led the guards of Yonghe Marquis's mansion to search for the young master in the county, deliberately making a big noise, hoping that the barbarian would reveal his tracks, and then he and General Ao would search in secret. Therefore, Qin Fang knew him.
Chief Guard Cheng said, "You two, General Ao is here."
General Ao lives in the county town, just a short distance from the Marquis's Mansion.
Aunt Lian had already gotten off the donkey cart: "Madam."
Yang Haiyan came out of the donkey cart, and she stepped down on a small stool while holding her hand. Next came Yang Dahua, who was helped down by Nanny Lian, because Yang Haiyan was of higher status than her, so it was not appropriate for her to help her.
Chief Guard Cheng: "Everyone, please."
The group entered the Marquis's residence, and a maid waited inside: "Mrs. Qin, do you still recognize this old servant?"
Yang Haiyan smiled and said, "Of course I recognize you. I haven't seen you for a few days. You look so energetic." She was the nanny serving the Crown Prince's wife. She had seen her in the General's Mansion that day.
The nanny said, "I knew you were coming, so I didn't bother to dress up." Then she said to Yang Dahua, "Is this Mrs. Han? You must have worked hard on the way here."
Yang Dahua also smiled: "It's not hard, thank you for your concern." Although she didn't learn the etiquette rules as well as Yang Haiyan, she was a little nervous, but she could still cope with it. After all, when she was in the Yang Mansion, she often encountered powerful maids.
Next, the nanny took Yang Haiyan and others to the inner courtyard, and Captain Guard Cheng took Qin Fang and others to the prince's side.
When she saw the Crown Prince's wife again, she looked much thinner than the first time they met. Her son had been held hostage for five days, and she didn't know how she managed to survive those five days. She had visibly lost weight. But when she saw Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua, her eyes were filled with gratitude.
Ao Jiang arrived early and is now sitting next to the Crown Prince's wife.
Yang Haiyan: "I have met the wife of the Crown Prince and Lady Ao"
Yang Dahua: "I greet the Crown Prince's wife and Lady Ao."
The Crown Prince's wife went over, holding one of them with each hand, and helped them up: "You two are welcome, come and sit over here quickly."
Compared to the dignity and grace that day in the general's mansion, today is much more intimate.
After Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua were seated, the prince's wife said, "Lan Ping, there are guests at home. Go and ask the young master and young lady to come over to greet them."
"yes."
After a while, a little boy and a little girl came in. The little girl held the little boy's hand and said, "Mom."
The Crown Prince's wife waved her hand and said, "Come here quickly, meet Lady Qin and Mrs. Han. The husbands of these two are Wang Tao's saviors."
When the little girl and the little boy heard this, they bowed respectfully to Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua and said, "Greetings to Lady Qin and Mrs. Han."
In theory, the girl and the young master were of noble status, so they naturally did not need to bow to Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua. But the wife of the prince asked them to bow because Qin Fang and Han Zhen had saved the young master's life, which made sense.
Yang Haiyan quickly stood up and moved away, and Yang Dahua also stood up, but because she was pregnant, she was a little slower.
Yang Haiyan: "This is my first time meeting the young lady and the young man. I don't know what they like, so I made a little doll myself. I hope they won't dislike it."
The young master blinked his eyes: "What little doll?" Between Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua, he naturally looked at Yang Haiyan. Maybe it's because all children like beautiful people.
The little girl stared at Yang Haiyan curiously.
For children, as long as there are gifts to receive, they are happy.
The Crown Prince's wife looked at it and shook her head.
Yang Haiyan looked at Yang Dahua: "Sister Dahua."
Yang Dahua took out a package and said, "I have your gift here. Can you open it and have a look?"
The little girl looked at the Crown Prince's wife. After the Crown Prince's wife agreed, she opened the package. When she saw the flower doll inside, her eyes really lit up. She had received real flowers and handkerchiefs embroidered with flowers, but this was the first time she had seen such a flower doll. "Mother." She looked at the Crown Prince's wife.
The Crown Prince's wife smiled and asked, "What should you say to Mrs. Han?"
The little girl said crisply, "Thank you, Mrs. Han. I like your gift very much. But what are these two ribbons for?"
Yang Dahua said, "You can carry it on your back." Then, she helped the little girl carry it, "That's it."
The little girl carried a small flower on her back and turned her head. Although she couldn't see what was behind her, she could still see some of it.
The wife of the prince said, "This is quite novel. Other students are covered with book baskets, but my daughter is carrying flowers."
The young man looked at the flower. As a young man, he didn't like it. But: "What about my gift?" Didn't he say that he and his sister both had one
Yang Haiyan smiled and said, "Yours is here. It's in this package. I'm giving it to you. Do you want to open it yourself?"
The young master took the initiative and said, "I'll open it myself." He quickly opened the package, and then, "Wow... wow... it's a little tiger." As he spoke, he picked up the little tiger doll, "It's a little tiger, I like little tigers." As he spoke, he saw the baby carrier, "Hurry, hurry, I want to carry it on my back." In front of the boy, there is nothing that a little tiger can't solve.
Seeing how much her son liked it, the wife of the prince could not help but say, "You are so thoughtful." One gave her daughter a flower doll, and the other gave her son a tiger doll. "This doll is very interesting. How did you come up with it?" She had never seen such a doll before. When she saw it for the first time, not only would the child like it, but even the older ones would probably like it.
Yang Dahua said: "This is what Haiyan thought of. She is smart. I am grateful to her for her suggestion."
The wife of the prince looked at Yang Haiyan: "Oh?"
Yang Haiyan said: "When I was in the capital, I saw many lifelike clay figurines on the street, including little boys, little girls, monkeys, etc., so I thought, if clay figurines can be molded into such full shapes, then can we make them like this with cloth? So I tried to make it."
The Crown Prince's wife recalled: "Come to think of it, I played with clay figurines when I was a child, but that was more than ten years ago. But you still miss them."
Ao Jiang: "When my children were young, they loved clay figurines and would buy them whenever they saw them."
The wife of the prince was willing to lower her status. Yang Haiyan was a person with a lot of experience. Yang Dahua and Ao Jiang occasionally interrupted her and the conversation was quite pleasant. As for the male guests, the prince chatted with General Ao, Qin Fang and Han Zhen for a while, then took them to the stable.
The prince pointed at the horses over there and said, "This is a BMW that I spent some time to get. Although it is not a Ferghana horse, it is still top-quality. Ferghana horses can travel 800 miles a day, while our ordinary war horses can travel 300 miles a day, and the slightly better ones can travel 400 miles a day. The horses that are used to transmit military information can travel 500 miles a day, and these two horses can travel 600 miles a day."
The horse with a black body and shiny fur looks very handsome.
Qin Fang didn't know about horses before, and he certainly doesn't know about them now. But he is a horse owner after all, so he has some knowledge of the quality of horses. When he saw this black horse, he couldn't help but say, "Good horse."
Han Zhen didn't say anything, but he couldn't help but go up and touch the horse a few times. Before he could touch its fur, the horse roared at him with contempt.
This made everyone laugh.
The prince explained, "You have to feed them with food. They will let you touch them after they are familiar with them." It seems that the prince has been yelled at a lot. Then the prince said, "I give these two horses to you today. Thank you for saving my life. At the same time, I hope you can lead these two horses to achieve more glorious military exploits. You know, this kind of BMW can only show its heroic appearance on the battlefield."
Qin Fang and Han Zhen: "Thank you, Prince." Since the prince mentioned the battlefield, they would not refuse.
The prince: "Let's go back and continue discussing things."
After lunch
The three families left. Qin Fang and Han Zhen rode on the horses given by the prince. Yang Haiyan and Yang Dahua each held a box, which was given by the prince's wife.
When they got home, the private guards saw their master's horse and each of them wanted to touch it, but the horse was also temperamental and barked at them a few times when it saw them trying to touch it.
Kunshi: "This BMW has a bad temper. He is still very obedient under the adults."
Qin Fang said: "That's not the case. I fed it a lot of delicious food in the stable of the Marquis' Mansion, and then I became familiar with it."
Yang Haiyan added: "Isn't that the landlord's stupid son?"
Aunt Lian was curious: "Madam, what does the landlord's stupid son mean by that?"
Yang Haiyan explained with a smile: "It will follow whoever gives it food. Isn't this a stupid son?"
When everyone heard this, they thought it made a lot of sense.
Huang Huzi took the opportunity to say, "Sir, can I apply to ride your original batch of horses?" Your Excellency has a BMW, can the original one be given to them to ride
When the other private guards heard Huang Huzi's question, they all said, "Sir, we would like to apply too."
Qin Fang: “…”
Yang Haiyan: "Why don't we buy two more horses? My husband has a horse, and Captain Kun has a horse too. Let's buy two more, one for Huang Huzi and the other, and use the remaining one as a carriage. We are going back to our hometown in March, and a donkey cart won't work."
Qin Fang thought it made sense: "Okay, I'll listen to you." But he would have to use his wife's private room again. No, he had to ask Han Zhen to go to the mountain to buy some meat.
Yang Haiyan looked at the black horses and was thinking about what to prepare for them. Everyone would love beautiful things. However, "Husband, have you named them?"