Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall
When the lamp is being held, a kind of lady wearing a hairpin skirt and a coat is chatting and laughing, and the birds and birds are dancing, and the pearls are shining beautifully under the candlelight.
Jia Mu asked, "Go and send someone to see why Baoyu hasn't come yet?"
Yuanyang said: "Old lady, have you forgotten? There will be a monthly exam at the end of the month, and I asked the second master to go to school these days."
A monthly exam is organized once a month in the ethnology school, and Baoyu was ranked Ding and Ding twice. Jia Zheng was furious and asked Baoyu to live in the school these days and study hard to prepare for the next monthly exam.
The Jia clan school originally provided food and accommodation.
Jia Mu sighed and said, "His father is too harsh on him."
But now that it's a gathering of women's families, it's not appropriate for Baoyu to come over.
The faint smile on Mrs. Wang's fair face froze for a moment, and she clenched the handkerchief a little tighter.
When Baoyu enters school in the future, he will be able to serve as an official. Now he is studying in the school and has to endure hardships before he can become a master.
At this moment, the nanny outside said: "Old lady, Uncle Heng, Grandma Heng and Grandma Lian are here."
Mother Jia in the room had a smile on her old face. She raised her eyes to look at the young man not far away and said, "Yuanyang, go out and greet him for me."
Yuanyang responded, and after a while, he saw Jia Heng entering the Rongqing Hall surrounded by Sister Feng and Ping'er while he was talking to Qin Keqing.
Jia Mu said with a smile on her face: "Brother Heng, you are here, but Qing is here too."
As he said that, he looked at Qin Keqing, who was supported by Sister Feng and Heping'er. The beauty's belly had swelled slightly. Under the woman's bun, her plump and soft face was white and rosy, and her cheeks were actually pink. With some baby fat.
Jia Heng bowed and said, "I've kept the old lady waiting for too long."
At this time, Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue got up, came forward to support Qin Keqing, and said softly: "Husband, go over there and talk to the old lady."
Daiyu and Baochai also stood up and looked at the beauty in pink dress. Their eyes inevitably fell on the beauty's swollen belly.
Baochai's moist apricot eyes flashed under her Cuiyu beautiful eyebrows. Brother Heng bullied her these two times...
In this way, it won't take long for her to have a child, but the child will have no name or identity, and she doesn't know what to do with it in the future.
Thinking of this, the girl's plump face showed a look of confusion, but her heart felt sad.
Some of his women could get married in the palace and receive congratulations from hundreds of officials.
The starry eyes under Daiyu's smoky eyebrows flickered, and she immediately looked at Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue who were sitting not far away, and sighed quietly in her heart.
On the other side, Li Wan also helped prepare a soft mattress and spread it on the soft couch. The maids and grandmothers in the entire Rongqing Hall were busy with it.
It can be said that Qin Keqing, who is pregnant with Jia Heng's child, has become the most noble person in the Rongning and Ning mansions.
Jia Mu smiled and greeted, "But please sit next to me and come over to talk."
"Yes, old lady." Qin Keqing responded softly with a "Hey", and immediately came to sit down surrounded by all the maids and grandmothers.
At this moment, Xing Xiuyan looked at the young man in green shirt. There seemed to be something strange about the jade pendant hidden in his arms.
She hasn't mentioned this matter to Master Miaoyu in the past two days, and she doesn't know how to say it.
In the past few days, Jia Heng was busy with wedding matters, but actually did not talk to Xing Xiuyan, who was scheduled to get married.
Jia Heng sat down and sat down straight.
At this time, Yuanyang put down the tea cup in his hand and said: "Master, drink tea."
Mother Jia's old eyes showed concern, and she said, "Brother Heng, I heard that you are going to Jiangnan?"
"Not sure, maybe going to Qinghai or Xining." Jia Heng put down the tea cup and said in front of everyone's attention.
"Qinghai? Xining?" Jia Mu was surprised and said, "The Jin family is in Xining."
Jia Heng said: "There has been a war over there recently. The Jin family recently sent troops from Xining to Qinghai, and the war in the northwest has resumed."
Mother Jia said with emotion: "Brother Heng really hasn't had a break for two days before he has to go to work again. It's been several years. Brother Heng has only been at home for less than a year."
Sister Feng smiled and said: "The ancestors, that is, Brother Heng, have been running around non-stop for the past two years, otherwise we cannot be granted the title of Duke at such a young age."
Jia Mu smiled and said, "This is also true."
As he spoke, he looked at Jia Heng with concern and said, "I'm thinking, brother Heng, your wife has a fetus in her belly. You should spend more time with your wife, the princess and the princess during this time."
Qin Keqing's beady voice sounded and said: "Old lady, my husband is busy with national affairs, which are related to the country and the people of the world. I can't do it for my own selfish interests."
"But you are a general person." Jia Mu smiled and said softly: "It was the same when the Duke of the country was here. Sometimes he was away from home for ten and a half months, but the country could not always have a war. Wait until later. In two or three years, the world will be peaceful, let Brother Heng stay with you and your child."
Jia Mu said, looking at Princess Xianning and the young princess, she smiled kindly and said, "Xianning and Chanyue, you two will also stay in the mansion for two more days."
Princess Xianning smiled and said: "Old lady, Chan Yue said that she has been looking for Sister Lin to play these two days. I have something to do tomorrow, so I can't be here with my husband."
Jia Mu looked at Daiyu, who was looking peaceful, and said, "Yu'er, let Chanyue live with you so that you two can talk more at night."
There are still two in the house now. It's okay to say that Bao Yatou is just a concubine. How Lin Yatou will be with Brother Heng in the future is also a matter of course.
In fact, Jia Mu's love for Daiyu is not comparable to that of Baochai.
The starry eyes under the smoky eyebrows of Daiyu glanced at the young man, and said in a charming voice: "That's what I said."
"Old lady, the food is ready." Lin Zhixiao's family whispered.
Jia Mu nodded and greeted with a smile: "Okay, let's not talk about this for now. Let's all have dinner."
With that said, everyone moved to the dining table and sat down one after another. Although there were two noble nobles, Princess Xianning and Princess Qinghe, they were still chatting and laughing because of Xiangyun and Baoqin.
When the meal was finished, everyone finished rinsing their mouths and sat down to drink tea again.
Sister Feng's beautiful face had a smile as bright as a flower, and she said: "Old ancestor, Grandma Liu said that she would come to visit you someday and pay her respects to you."
Jia Mu said, "Grandma Liu?"
Sister Feng said: "She said that she grew some seasonal fruits in the village by herself and sent them to the ancestors to try them."
Jia Mu smiled and said, "I was just saying that there is nothing to do in the house, so it would be nice to let her come over to relieve her boredom."
In this way, by the time of Xu, Li Chanyue and Daiyu went to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, while Jia Heng, Sister Feng, Li Wan, Ping'er and other maids and grandmothers carefully helped Qin Keqing return to the back house. Feng Wanping and the other two went to their own homes. I didn’t mention where I was going back.
The couple sat in the side room talking, their ears and temples rubbing together.
Jia Heng gently hugged the beauty's plump waist. Seeing the cute and carefree beauty, he couldn't help but kiss her plump face as red as rouge, and said, "I don't want you to try it first."
But after Qing became pregnant with Liujia, her appearance also grew a lot, and it was hard to hide her gorgeous and mature charm.
Qin Keqing felt the young man's heart throbbing at this moment. Wanli's eyebrows were filled with embarrassment and she said, "Husband, I will send the orb to call the third sister to come over."
Jia Heng said softly: "You can call me if you want."
In fact, he really can't do without the third sister later. He doesn't know what's going on now. It seems that his strength has not increased, but his energy in that area is vast and endless, and he feels refreshed.
Not long after, the sound of jingle bells sounded, and Sanjie You walked in from the outside. The girl was wearing a peach red armor and a blue and white skirt underneath. Green mist, sandalwood mouth dotted with cinnabar.
"Uncle, Sister Qin." Third Sister You chuckled and spoke softly, then came to the bed and sat down.
Jia Heng stared at the beautiful girl and said softly: "The third sister is here."
Speaking of color, Sanjie You is indeed gorgeous and attractive, but the sharpness in the corners of her eyebrows and eyes is not much better than that of Sister Feng.
Third Sister You turned sideways, pinched Qin Keqing's shoulders, and asked with a smile: "Sister, did you go to Xifu today?"
"The old lady invited the princess and the princess to have dinner together, and then followed her husband." Qin Keqing said softly.
Obviously, he also enjoys the service of the girl.
Third Sister You said softly: "Sister, have you met Her Royal Highness the Princess and the Princess?"
Qin Keqing chuckled and said, "I've seen it before. Sister Chanyue went to stay with Sister Lin for two days, and Sister Xianning went back."
Third Sister You chuckled lightly but said nothing.
She knew that Her Royal Highness the Princess would not come to Ningguo Mansion to stay overnight. The little princess would also return to the Princess Mansion in two days, so that was fine.
Jia Heng called Baozhu to get a basin of hot water. He changed the subject and asked, "Third Sister, have you picked the day I asked you to choose last time?"
Third Sister You smiled coquettishly and asked, "Uncle, how about the end of the month?"
Now the uncle does not have a concubine in name. Now that she has taken the lead, she is one step ahead of the Xue family girl. It would be great if she could have a child earlier.
I heard that the girl from the Xue family was looking for his first wife, but she had already made an astonishing achievement, so how could she marry another first wife?
"I won't necessarily still be in the capital at the end of the month, or maybe it will be just for the next two or three days. I might still have some free time." Jia Heng pulled the girl's slender breasts.
In fact, the process of taking a concubine is not complicated. It is just a sedan chair, and then the third sister You's courtyard is decorated with lanterns and decorations, and then she finds a place in the courtyard to entertain the guests of the You family.
In the past, I didn’t want to take care of it, but I really couldn’t spare the time.
But now it's Keqing's favor, and it can be regarded as a way to keep the housewife's favor when she is pregnant with Liujia. From this point of view, it really doesn't mean anything.
Third Sister You was slightly happy, Yanye's face showed two pear dimples, and said: "Then I will do as the uncle said."
She doesn't talk about big things, but she does post the posts that need to be posted, such as to Hengwuyuan and Xiaoxiang Pavilion.
At this moment, Baozhu and Ruizhu came over with a basin of hot water.
Jia Heng smiled and said: "Third sister, please wash my feet for me. You will also take care of your sister Qin later."
In fact, the third sister is quite good at taking care of others, but Keqing was actually a little clingy during her pregnancy, and she would have to be comforted later.
Third Sister You responded, then helped Jia Heng take off his boots and socks, and put them into the copper basin to wash.
As night approaches, everything in the courtyard is completely silent. The curtains outside are slowly lowered, but the windows covered with mosquito nets are opened for ventilation.
On the bed surrounded by curtains, the beauty's shy voice could be heard vaguely: "Husband, don't... stop making trouble with the child."
Jia Heng, who was parking the car from the side, stroked his slightly bulging belly and said comfortingly: "Don't worry, it won't hurt you."
But Qing also missed him a little, he could feel it, and he thought about it so hard that his eyes filled with tears.
Qin Keqing seemed to snort and stopped responding.
I don’t know how long it took, but the bright moon outside the window gradually set in the west, and the midsummer night of the 16th year of Chongping passed quietly.
…
…
The next day, in the early morning, golden morning rays shone in the courtyard with carved beams and painted buildings. The trees seemed to be covered with a layer of golden gauze. The summer birdsong sounded in the courtyard, which became increasingly quiet.
Jia Heng changed his clothes, and after breakfast, he went to the study room, ready to find Zha Zi.
"The flying pigeons of the Jinyi Mansion in Xining sent a message, the Xining Mansion Guards were defeated, Jin Xiaoyu died in the battle at Haiyan, and the Heshuote Mongolian soldiers entered Huangyuan County." Chen Xiao, who disappeared for a day yesterday, was wearing a well-made Feiyu suit, and his hands were Holding a military newspaper in his pocket, he said softly.
Jia Heng took the piece of paper, read it quickly, frowned, and said, "Jin Xiaoyu died in the battle?"
Although the prince of Xining County had some quarrels with him, now that he died in battle, the past grievances felt like a passing thing.
Chen Xiao said: "Xining has confirmed that General Jin Xuan of Fuyuan is requesting reinforcements from the imperial court."
It can only be said that the situation is changing so fast that it is dizzying.
Jia Heng put away the paper, looked at the sky outside, and said, "I have to enter the palace immediately and report to the Holy Emperor."
After thinking for a while, he looked at Chen Xiao and said warmly: "Xiaoxiao, where were you last night?"
"Didn't go anywhere." Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao said with a hint of embarrassment in his eyebrows and a cold voice.
When I got to the back last night, I tossed her a lot. This is because she has a good martial arts physique, so there is no need to pity her, right?
Jia Heng glanced at Chen Xiao, smiled and said, "Don't be around all day long."
Chen Xiao said softly: "I'm usually in Jinyi Mansion, you just don't pay attention."
Jia Heng took a deep look at the girl, was silent for a moment, and said: "Then I will go to the palace first and wait for my return."
Xiaoxiao still hides some things from him. When will he get a chance to ask her?
Daming Palace, Hanyuan Hall
Emperor Chongping looked at the memorial on the desk with a look of thought on his face.
The Prince of Nan'an County who asked for a battle at the wedding yesterday did not give up. Today he delivered memorials to the palace. Not only the Prince of Nan'an County, but also Liu Fang, Shi Guangzhu and others also submitted memorials for the war.
"Your Majesty, Duke Wei has handed over a sign outside to ask for an audience, saying that he has something urgent to do and wants to see Your Majesty." Dai Quan bowed and said in a low voice.
"Xuan." Emperor Chongping put down the memorial and said with surprise on his face.
After a while, Jia Heng was led by two eunuchs to the door, crossed the threshold, walked into the palace, saluted the emperor behind the case, and said, "I have met my father."
Emperor Chongping nodded and said, "Ziyu, please get back on your feet."
Jia Heng said: "Go back to your Majesty. This morning, Jin Yi Mansion Guard Inspector Fei Ge in the direction of Xining sent a message. Jin Xiaoyu led 30,000 soldiers and horses in Haiyan City to defeat the Dorji tribe of Heshuote Mongolia. Thirty thousand soldiers from Xining were defeated." The border army was almost completely wiped out, Jin Xiaoyu died in the battle, and Xining troops were stationed in Huangyuan County to confront the Mongols. There will never be peace in the northwest frontier."
After hearing this, Emperor Chongping stood up and said angrily: "What's going on?"
"The detailed battle report should still be on the way. The battle report for reinforcements from Fuyuan General Jin Xuan, the younger brother of the King of Xining County, is already on the way at a speed of 600 miles," Jia Heng said.
Emperor Chongping's face was clouded, and he shouted: "Thirty thousand soldiers and horses were wiped out in one battle! How can Jin Xiaoyu be so helpless?"
Jia Heng said: "Father, the Jin family has been in the northwest for a long time. There have been frequent internal fights due to the family's selfish interests. Jin Xiaoyu is eager to make meritorious deeds and underestimates the enemy. Moreover, Jurchen's Yue Tuo secretly helps Heshuote Mongolia. With this defeat, Heshuote Mongolia and Jurchen Most likely we will intimidate Xining."
"Intimidating Xining? How do you say that?" Emperor Chongping said with a solemn expression.
Jia Heng said: "If the Xining border army is defeated again and the Mongolian and Jurchen troops approach the city, the city of Xining will be in danger. Moreover, once the Jurchens and Heshuote become allies and Liaodong invades from Xuanda and Jizhou, we will face the enemy on both sides. If the left and the right are overwhelmed, then the situation will be out of control.”
This is the power of Yue Tuo. He inspired Heshuote Mongolia's ambition to stand on his own in the northwest. He took advantage of the situation and joined forces with Heshuote Mongolia to attack the Han from both sides.
Emperor Chongping frowned and said worriedly: "In this case, Xining will have to send troops."
It can be said that Emperor Chongping was convinced by Jia Heng's judgment.
"The Jurchens have just suffered a huge defeat in the north. This Jurchen sent a prince to the northwest, which caused constant trouble in my northwest." Emperor Chongping got up and paced back and forth and said.
Jia Heng said: "If chaos breaks out in the northwest, the imperial court will be even more tired of dealing with it. I am willing to lead troops there to clear out the barbarians in Qinghai and take advantage of the situation to regain the Western Region."
Emperor Chongping muttered: "You have just come back, and you are still working too hard. What's more, I didn't say yesterday that the court had just gone through a war and it was not appropriate to go to war. I meant to send reinforcements to Xining first. What do you think of Ziyu?"
Jia Heng said: "You can send a partial army first."
Once a full-scale war breaks out, it will be a national war-level war.
Chongping said: "I think that Nan'an County has been to the northwest many times to check the border, and it has made a lot of achievements in Xining."
Jia Heng said: "The prince of Nan'an County is already old, and I thought he would not be Yue Tuo's opponent."
In fact, it would really be impossible if he didn't invite me again.
The Emperor might say afterwards, "You just watched me consume such a useless snack?" He is really my good son-in-law.
Emperor Chongping thought for a while and advised: "Nan'an is also a veteran of the military, Ziyu. Although he had some quarrels with you in the past because of the Jin, Liu and Niu families, if he just stabilizes the northwest, it should be no big deal. Over there in the south of the Yangtze River I still can’t leave you, now Gao Zhongping’s memorial has been delivered, saying that Jiangsu will take the lead in implementing the four new policies in Jiangnan, and I hope you can go to Jiangnan to discuss the new policies.”
When Jia Heng heard this, he was slightly surprised.
This Gao Zhongping...
Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment and said: "Today, I have sent another memorial to invite you to fight. I can't help but brush off the invitation again and again."
Jia Heng was silent for a moment and said: "Father, it is a matter of military affairs and a place of life and death. The prince of Nan'an County is old and dim after all. It is not that his sons and ministers cannot trust them. Yue Tuo is really difficult to deal with."
As the son-in-law of the emperor, sometimes it is inappropriate to be so stubborn, as it would appear to be too selfish.
Of course, after Nan'an and others were defeated, he still had to comfort the emperor's wounded heart.
In fact, he was still a little worried about whether the emperor would be ashamed and ashamed after the defeat of Prince Nan'an.
As for whether the Prince of Nan'an County will win without defeat, this is basically impossible.
Seeing the young man's insistence, Emperor Chongping thought for a while and said, "Then let the courtiers discuss it first."
As time passed, Jin Xiaoyu, the crown prince of Xining County, led the army to conquer Qinghai. All 30,000 soldiers and horses died in Haiyan County. The news that Jin Xiaoyu himself died in battle blew through the capital like a whirlwind.
For a time, there was an uproar in Shenjing City.
Not long ago, the Han Dynasty won a hearty victory, and now it suffered a defeat in the northwest. Are the Tatars in Qinghai more difficult to deal with than those in Liaodong?
Emperor Chongping also summoned the cabinet, the Military Aircraft Department, the six ministries and nine ministers, and the censors on the left and right sides to hold a court meeting in the Hanyuan Hall.
Divine Capital City, Nan'an County Prince's Mansion, in the study room——
Nan'an County Prince Yan Ye was sitting behind the case, surrounded by Liu Fang, Shi Guangzhu and others, discussing Qinghai's side affairs.
Liu Fang said with relief: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I think even if the Xining border army is defeated, it should be fine."
Shi Guangzhu also said: "Shibo, as long as Xining's troops and horses support each other in time, everything will be fine. The Xining border army has more than 100,000 people, and it is an elite force."
The prince of Nan'an County said: "I have been to the northwest to check the border. The northwest frontier army is no better than the soldiers and horses of the Beijing camp. According to what the boy said, Yue Tuo, the prince of Jurchen County, also went to Qinghai. If he can help me, I am afraid that Xining may not be able to resist it." , we need to send troops to rescue as soon as possible."
Whenever the Jurchens are involved in any war, it will become difficult. And even though the child is arrogant and domineering, sometimes he can't take it seriously.
Shi Guangzhu said: "Uncle Shi, if we can mobilize one hundred thousand troops from the capital camp, we will definitely succeed immediately."
"The Hongyi cannon in the Beijing camp can bombard the enemy camp from several miles away. As long as the cannon is pulled to the head of Xining City, as many soldiers and horses as there are will be killed, and the credit will be in vain!" Liu Fang's eyes flashed brightly and she said excitedly.
Ma Shang nodded and said: "Brother Liu is right. This is a golden opportunity for us. Once the war breaks out in Xining, the court will definitely use us. Not to mention other things, just saying that Duke Wei has just returned from the expedition. Leading the troops to fight again, except for the man named Jia, there is no one else who can lead the troops to fight?"
The old prince of Nan'an County's eyes lit up and he said: "We will write another memorial later to ask for battle. Then we will lead one hundred thousand troops and go to Xining to defeat Qinghai with the Xining border army!"
Everyone said yes.
At this moment, the old servant outside reported Chen Ruiwen's visit. After a while, Chen Ruiwen entered the study.
The Prince of Nan'an County looked at the young man and asked, "My dear nephew, is there any latest news from the Ministry of War?"
It turns out that early in the morning, the Prince of Nan'an County asked Chen Ruiwen to go to the Ministry of War to keep an eye on the latest intelligence about Xining.
Chen Ruiwen looked ugly and said: "Shibo, there is no report from the Ministry of War, but the palace has just summoned people from the Ministry of War to discuss military matters. It was mentioned that the 30,000 soldiers and horses of Xining's border army died in Haiyan County, Xining County Prince Wang died in battle, and the situation in the northwest is critical."
"What?" Prince Nan'an frowned and said.
Several people in the hall were also shocked and looked at each other.
"How is it possible? Xiaoyu is good at fighting, how could he lose his opponent's life?" Shi Guangzhu's eyes were filled with doubts.
Sun Ma Kui, the ruler of the country, frowned and said: "With thirty thousand soldiers and horses, if we can't defeat them, it shouldn't be difficult to break out of the encirclement. Why did Brother Jin die for his country?"
Chen Ruiwen sighed and said: "I heard that it was the Jurchen Prince Yue Tuo who went to Qinghai Mongolia to assist the Heshuote Tribe. Brother Jin was killed by this Yue Tuo."
Liu Fang said: "Your Majesty, this..."
After all, he was also a colleague who had suffered a blow together in the past. Now that he heard that Jin Xiaoyu died in the battle, he was still a little frightened.
Prince Nan'an frowned and said, "It's useless to talk about this now. The palace will urgently summon us to discuss matters later. This is our chance!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone sat down again slumped.
Some things had vague omens beforehand. Once the Jurchens sent people to disrupt the situation in the northwest, the imperial court would become passive.
"Your Majesty, the palace has sent angels to summon military aircraft to the palace to discuss matters." At this moment, an old servant stood under the eaves of the corridor and called to Prince Nan'an in the room.
Yan Ye said in a deep voice: "I think the palace is discussing sending troops. Let's go and take a look."
With that said, get up.
The others left the Nan'an County Prince's Mansion first, found sedans from their own homes, and set off towards the palace garden.
