Jinling City and Palace Gardens thousands of miles away——
This is the palace city before the capital was moved when Taizu of the Chen and Han Dynasties founded the country. The palaces, pavilions and pavilions inside are majestic and magnificent, with a unique layout. Because craftsmen from the Nanjing Ministry of Industry have been maintaining it all year round, it looks brand new from a distance.
It was the twelfth lunar month, and the cold wind was blowing the branches with fallen leaves. At some point, the sky covered with dark clouds suddenly started to flutter with snowflakes, covering the pavilions and pavilions in the entire courtyard.
The qiongzhi snow tree is as white as feathers, wrapped in silver, enchanting and bright.
In the palace, above the attic
The Empress of the Song Dynasty was dressed in a light yellow dress with a green bun like a cloud. The beauty was plump, with tall peaks, and her belt added a touch of gracefulness. At this moment, she stood and looked into the distance, her beautiful eyes staring blankly at the white snow in the courtyard in front of the palace. The covered plants and trees, like the snow beauties with icy skin and jade skin, blend into the snowy scene.
Empress Yong Li of the Song Dynasty had a look of thoughtfulness on her beautiful face.
This journey is actually not without danger.
Because Chen Xiao deliberately spread the news, Chen Yuan sensed that the army was on guard, so he did not take action in Luoyang and Kaifeng. Instead, he kept watching Queen Song's ship heading south, planning to look for other opportunities.
The main reason is that Jia Heng is fighting in the south. If the queen is really assassinated, there will be excuses.
At this moment, a female official with a slim figure came forward and said softly: "Your Majesty, Princess Wei is waiting outside, asking to see your Majesty."
Empress Song turned around, the tight Ying Yue was trembling, and her face as white as snow and her graceful and beautiful jade face showed a warm look, and she said softly: "Call her to come in. "
At this moment, Princess Wei Yan Yiliu was dressed in a green dress and a black cloak, standing on the jade steps. Her beautiful features and eyes were covered with a handsome aura, but her beautiful eyes were as cold and indifferent as the cold wind outside the window.
The beauty entered the hall, walked around the screen, bowed to the beauty in light yellow dress, and said, "I have seen my mother."
Yan Yiliu's voice was clear and cold, quite desolate and desolate in the cold winter of the twelfth lunar month.
Empress Song stretched out a hand to help her. Under her fair and fair nose, her red lips opened slightly and she said softly: "Get up. It's a cold day and the ground is very cold. Come and watch."
"Thank you, Queen Mother." Yan Yiliu said softly and slowly got up.
In this ancient land, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has always been difficult, but perhaps it was the demotion of Nan'an County Prince Yan Ye and Yan Yiliu's infertility that made Queen Song feel a little more compassionate than before.
"I saw the doctors here recently. What did the doctors say?" Queen Song came not far away, sat down on the Arhat bed covered with soft mattresses, and asked softly.
"After returning to my mother, the doctor said that yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity required the use of methods to reconcile yin and yang, so he prescribed the medicine and asked him to take it for a while." Yan Yiliu sat down on the embroidered pier in an orderly manner, folding his hands. He folded his chest and said softly.
Empress Song nodded and said, "Now that the cause of the disease has been found out, it should be treated properly. It should be no serious problem."
After thinking for a while, he said: "After some time, I will ask Ran'er to come over. You are all alone in Jinling with no relatives to take care of you. Where do you live now?"
"I am now living in the old house in Jinling." Yan Yiliu said: "The prince is busy with government affairs, so it is not good for me to bother him with such trivial matters."
When Queen Song heard this, she knew in her heart that the relationship between the two of them was not good. She sighed and said, "Something happened with your father, and it's not easy for you in Jinling."
No matter what, she was the daughter-in-law she carefully selected for Ran'er. Now she can only say that she has a bad fate and is not lucky enough to enjoy the wealth Ran'er has given her.
As Yan Yiliu spoke, his eyes shone with tears under his heroic eyebrows, and he said in a trembling voice: "Mother, my concubine has a weak stomach and cannot give birth to a son for the prince. Now that something like this has happened in the family, if the mother is Agree, I can just write a letter of divorce from the prince, and it will not be in vain for the love between husband and wife."
Empress Song's beautiful face changed slightly, and she said in a clear voice: "You are the daughter-in-law of Tian Tian's Ming matchmaker. How can you divorce her so easily? However, you have always been childless. You can just take in concubines and continue your heirs. Such divorce and abandonment Say no more."
If you see that the Yan family has lost power, you will immediately divorce your wife, which will fall into His Majesty's eyes. I don't know how to look at it.
Even if he really gave up because he had no children, he would still have to wait three years.
Yan Yiliu was wiping his tears with a handkerchief at this moment. Warmth surged in his heart and he choked with sobs: "Thank you, Queen Mother."
When Queen Song saw this, the coldness on her face faded a little, and she said softly and comforted: "Okay, don't cry. Isn't this looking at the doctor taking medicine? There are outstanding people here in the south of the Yangtze River. After Princess Beijing gave birth to her daughter, , it seems that I haven’t had a child for a long time, but recently I heard that I am pregnant with a child, how can she be so optimistic about it?”
Yan Yiliu said: "Mother and daughter-in-law have also asked Princess Beijing recently. I heard that she is a wandering doctor who was hired by Duke Wei Guo and is good at treating difficult and complicated diseases."
Queen Song: "..."
In fact, this is what Concubine Beijing was wondering about. Why didn't she get pregnant for several years in the capital? How come she had a son when she arrived in Jiangnan?
Fortunately, Shui Rong covered it up, so the secret was not revealed, but Shui Rong just said that it was Jia Heng who helped find the doctor You Fang.
Yan Yiliu said softly: "I want to wait for Duke Wei...but my father at home doesn't get along with him, and I don't know how to speak."
Queen Song was silent for a moment, feeling a little weird in her heart, and said, "Well, after Ziyu comes back, I will ask Xianning to ask you."
Yan Yiliu looked stunned when he heard this and said, "Thank you very much, Queen Mother."
After a few words of relief, he ordered the female officer to send Yan Yiliu away.
Queen Song sighed quietly and sat down again.
Ran'er in Jingzhong has made a new marriage arrangement and is accepting a concubine.
At this moment, the female official from outside reported: "Mother, Your Highness Xianning, Princess Qinghe, the girl from the Song family, and His Highness Prince Liang are here."
When Empress Song heard this, her beautiful face lit up with joy and she said, "Let the two of them come over quickly."
After a while, Princess Xianning, Princess Qinghe and Prince Liang entered the palace talking and laughing.
"My son, I have met my mother." Princess Xianning stepped forward quickly and saluted Queen Song.
Empress Song smiled brightly and said: "Zhi'er, Chanyue is here, Yan'er is here too, come and sit quickly."
The King of Liang smiled and said: "Queen mother, I went to my aunt's house to ask for an audience. The fifth sister and cousin Chanyue were playing with a baby."
Princess Xianning frowned and scolded: "Sixth brother."
How to tell the queen mother about these things? With the queen's mind, it is impossible to say that she has already figured out the clues.
"Baby?" Queen Song looked surprised and asked.
Princess Xianning had a faint smile on her beautiful face, pursed her pink lips, and explained at the side: "Since cousin Chanyue got married, my aunt felt that the family was not lively enough, so she asked Lianxue to adopt a baby. Keep it."
Li Chanyue: "..."
I am married, but I often accompany my mother, right?
Okay, I know that my cousin is doing this to deceive others, but why does it feel weird?
Could it be that she will be adopted in the future just to make the family happy?
Empress Song's beautiful face showed a hint of surprise, but she didn't think it was strange and asked: "Is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's a boy. My aunt said that girls are too old to get married." Princess Xianning said softly.
Li Chanyue curled her lips, clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her eyes flickered, and she felt a little angry.
Song Yan on the side looked at Li Chanyue with a thoughtful look in her eyes.
Empress Song smiled and said softly: "In one or two years, Chan Yue will have a child. Leave the child to her and she will be able to be a grandmother and not be too lonely. She will give birth to one."
When Li Chanyue heard this, her face turned red immediately, and her charming voice said with a hint of annoyance, "Auntie."
Queen Song looked at the shy girl, smiled and said, "Okay, no more joking about Chan Yue. We have been married for so long, and now we are still shy."
It’s great to be young…
Then, Queen Song looked at Princess Xianning and asked, "Your husband went to Fuzhou to exterminate the pirates. Have you received any letters or news now?"
Princess Xianning sighed quietly and said softly: "There are no letters during this period. It has been a month or two in a flash. I don't know if I can come back during the New Year."
When King Liang listened to Empress Song and Princess Xianning mentioning Jia Heng, he saw a cold look in his eyes. He just sat aside, his face not very pretty.
Song Yan picked up the tea cup with her delicate hands and took a sip. A light pinkish blush appeared on her fair and pink face.
During this period, for some reason, a scene of the young man cuddling with his cousin emerged.
"Why should I come back for the New Year?" Empress Song said softly with a look of surprise on her crystal jade face that looked like flowers and trees piled with snow.
Princess Xianning said softly: "It's not like my mother doesn't know that my husband is busy with court affairs day and night. Ever since I got married to my husband, I, Chanyue, have spent less time together and more separation."
Empress Song smiled and said: "The war will eventually end, and then there will be more days to get together."
I'm afraid that at that time, I would only envy mandarin ducks but not immortals.
Well, what does she want to do with all this mess?
Princess Xianning said "hmm" and as she spoke, she turned to Empress Song with her bright eyes and asked with concern: "When will the Queen Mother go to Hangzhou?"
Empress Song smiled, her eyebrows curved, and she said softly: "In these few days, I will go see your aunt tomorrow. Is your aunt okay?"
Princess Xianning said clearly: "Everything is fine with my aunt."
Ever since I had my child, I have been happy every day, and my temper has been much better than usual.
"The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and the Queen Mother also misses your aunt very much. She has been in Jiangnan for almost a year, and it's time to go back and visit." Queen Song said in a soft voice.
Li Chanyue answered and said, "Mother said she would leave to return to the capital in the next few days."
Empress Song stared at Li Chanyue, who was hiding in the sky, smiled softly, and said, "After Chanyue got married, everything will be different."
The natural charm between these brows and eyes is as moist as the quilt...
Well, why is she thinking about all this again? Is this what she wants? She was really stunned. She must have been out of the deep palace in the past few days, and in the dead of night... she didn't know what to do.
The beauty was feeling guilty and quickly dismissed some of her messy thoughts.
"Auntie, how am I different?" Li Chanyue said coquettishly, her pretty face flushed with embarrassment.
Princess Xianning changed the subject with a smile and said, "Then I will go there with my mother."
The two are actually aunt and niece, but the Taigong of the Song family is indeed Princess Xianning's grandfather.
Empress Song's gentle and graceful face turned around, her red lips parted slightly, her brows were bright and smiling, and she said: "You will return to Beijing with your aunt. There is no need to go to Hangzhou."
Li Chanyue's voice was as gentle as an oriole coming out of the valley, and she said: "My mother said that if it doesn't work out, we can celebrate the New Year here, or we can wait for Mr. Jia to go south and escort the goods from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the north."
Queen Song didn't doubt his presence. She nodded her head and said, "The Chinese New Year is approaching, so we have to set off as early as possible."
At this moment, Liang Wang Chen Wei paused and said: "Queen Mother, I think Duke Wei will not be able to come back for a while. There is no news about the war on the sea yet. Officials in Jinling said that this I don’t know how long the naval battle will be delayed.”
Empress Song raised her eyebrows and asked curiously: "How many Jurchens have come?"
Liang Wang Chen Wei said: "I heard that there are 100,000 naval troops, but I don't know the exact number. However, there are many pirate soldiers and horses on Jilongshan Island. If the two join forces, the war will not end in a year or so." No."
Princess Xianning said softly: "Those civil servants are talking nonsense. When Duduo led some pirates south, they were put down not long after."
Liang Wang Chen Wei said: "I heard that the Dutch Red Yi also have Hong Yi cannons, and their number is not lower than that of the Jiangnan Navy. This advantage has been offset. This time it is the elite Eight Banners of the Eastern Lu."
Because many of the generals of the Jiangnan Navy were from Jiangnan, and with the exchange of letters from home, Nanjing gradually knew the truth about the Jurchens and the Korean Navy who came this time, and it was quite difficult to deal with them.
Li Chanyue said softly: "Mr. Xiao Jia should be able to find a way."
King Liang smiled and said: "I don't know, but it's hard to say where the war will go now."
Empress Song frowned her beautiful eyebrows, her smile gradually faded from Qishang Saixue's snow-skinned face, and said, "Your brother-in-law has always been resourceful, so he shouldn't delay for too long."
King Liang opened his mouth to argue. Suddenly, at this moment, a female official outside said: "My Lady, a guard from Xia Houying's Jinyi Mansion came over and said that she has something important to report to Her Highness the Princess."
"Xiahou? What is she doing here at this time?" Princess Xianning stood up, a look of surprise appeared on her beautiful face, and asked curiously.
Empress Song twisted her eyebrows and said, "Xuan come in and ask."
After a while, Xia Houying, who was wearing a brocade and flying fish suit, hid her figure, and was protected by a female official, came closer and said: "I have met the Queen in my humble position, and I have met Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Princess Xianning asked: "Master Xiahou didn't protect the eldest princess's mansion, why did he come here?"
Xia Houying said in a clear voice: "Just now, a message was sent from Fei Ge in Jinyi Mansion. Duke Wei Guo has recovered Da Yuan Island and defeated Liu Xiang and Hong Yi. Knowing that His Highness is concerned about him, I came here to report it."
As soon as these words came out, the palace suddenly fell into silence.
King Liang froze on the spot, dumbfounded.
Empress Song stood there blankly, only to feel she was hit by a surprise. On her snow-skinned and jade-faced face, a prosperous smile appeared, like a ten-mile peach blossom, as gorgeous as a brocade cloud, and she said: "Zi Yu really won the battle. "
If she really got it right, she would know that the little fox was capable.
Song Yan Liuye raised her slender eyebrows, her bright and clear eyes flashed, and there was a hint of nostalgia on her little palm-sized face.
Although Brother Heng is a little ridiculous, his literary skills and military skills are indeed something few can match.
Empress Song's maternal charm flowed silently from the corners of her brows and eyes, and the briskness in her voice could not be concealed as she said, "After defeating the pirates, Ziyu should be back."
In fact, when she went south to Jinling, she was still thinking about how to handle the boy, but who knew that after arriving in Jinling, she didn't see the little fox at all.
Princess Xianning chuckled and said happily: "Queen mother, how can you be so fast? There are still things to deal with the aftermath."
Sir is coming soon again.
Li Chanyue said softly: "The war will almost end before the year."
Not long ago, we were talking about the full-moon wine during the festival. Mr. Jia was distracted by the military affairs. Now we should be able to reunite during the New Year.
Princess Xianning looked at Liang Wang Chen Wei and said, "How is it?"
Liang Wang Chen Wei said sarcastically: "This is also what the civil servants outside said."
Looking at her son's "shy" attitude, Empress Song smiled, with a kind motherly charm overflowing from the corners of her brows and eyes, and said: "Okay, we are just looking at the outside military affairs in the fog, and we will sort it out tomorrow. , go to Hangzhou with your mother."
Prince Liang nodded his head, filled with resentment.
Now even the Queen Mother is somewhat attracted to Jia Heng.
…
…
On the other side, on the rough sea, a warship rides on the wind and waves, and the sails on the tall mast are bulging. In the low night, the lanterns are swaying on the mast.
Hauge was defeated again, his face was ashen, and he sat blankly on the chair, his whole body silently exuding a cold aura that no strangers should enter.
At this moment, Shi Tingzhu came quickly, with a worried look on his face, and said: "Your Majesty, the Han army is no longer chasing behind."
Hauge's face was filled with flesh and blood, and he said angrily: "This Red Yi cannon is so difficult to deal with. If the Han people send troops to bombard my city with the Red Yi cannon, won't we, the Qing Dynasty, be helpless?"
"I heard from my brothers that not only the Hongyi cannons, but also the Han people's thunderbolts were thrown on the ship." Abatai's dark face was illuminated by the dim lights and said softly: "After these thunderbolts exploded, many The iron nails were shot out, and many of my brothers were injured."
Shi Tingzhu pondered and said: "Your Majesty, the top priority now is not to fight the Han people head-on, but to get rid of them, surprise Hangzhou Prefecture, and after looting, we will return to North Korea immediately."
There have been many casualties in the navy today. If this continues, I am afraid that all the navy soldiers going south this time will be trapped here.
With an angry look on his face, Hauge said: "The Han people are in hot pursuit. How can we land in Hangzhou?"
It can be said that Hauge has never encountered this kind of frustrating battle with bloodshed all the way since he led his troops on the battlefield. He always fought against others on the battlefield.
Shi Tingzhu advised: "Don't worry, my lord, the Han people will also need to replenish food and fresh water along the way. We can take the capital of Hangzhou by bypassing the Han people on Zhoushan Island in front."
Hauge nodded and said: "Just follow this plan. The whole army will speed up and march directly to Hangzhou Mansion. We will capture Hangzhou City and won't seal the sword for three days!"
They were defeated and fled all the way, panicking like a lost dog. It can be said that their morale was extremely low.
…
…
Two days later, the outpost ship sent by Jia Heng finally received the report ship from Dong Qian and Shui Yu.
Mainly to report on the latest progress in the pursuit of Hauge's headquarters and the North Korean Navy.
Jia Heng took the military newspaper and read the report. He couldn't help showing a look of joy on his face and said: "Dong Qian and Shui Yuer will annihilate another 4,000 sailors of the Korean Navy with the Hongyi cannon. Hauge's men There are only about 20,000 left.”
After interrogating some prisoners in the Jinyi Mansion, Jia Heng already knew that when Hauge went south from North Korea, he led 50,000 North Korean naval forces. Together with the 4,000 North Korean naval forces, the total number of troops was 54,000. After several battles, only 20,000 troops and horses have been lost.
Chen Xiao stared at the young man with clear eyes and asked in a low voice: "Then what are your plans for using troops next?"
A thoughtful look appeared on Jia Heng's face, and he said: "A water war is not a land war. Even though Hauge has all kinds of abilities, his firearms and equipment are not as good as mine, so he can only suffer a secret loss."
The Qing army armed with broadswords and spears could never defeat the foreigners armed with firearms. This generational difference in technological weapons was even more obvious in naval battles.
A worried look appeared on Chen Xiao's face. He thought for a moment and said, "Then Hauge and others may take the risk and land on the shore to cause trouble in Jiangnan."
Jia Heng said: "It's not impossible, so we have to take precautions and let our ships speed up to block Hauge's headquarters and the North Korean navy from invading the southeast coast as soon as possible."
"Where do you think he will invade, why not contain him in advance?" Chen Xiao suggested.
Jia Heng said: "It's either Hangzhou, Susong and Songfu, or Jinling Mansion."
Because Fuzhou Prefecture is close to the big island and has enough naval forces, it cannot be conquered in a short time. Then Hauge's navy, which rises from the coast, can only attack the coastal areas of Zhejiang.
"Then speed up and block him one step ahead?" Chen Xiao turned his eyes and had an idea in mind.
Jia Heng nodded and said, "I'm worried that the ship won't be able to catch up. Let's try it first."
In fact, it is still some distance away from Hauge's headquarters. Of course, if we choose a good direction, we may be able to wait and see in Hangzhou Bay first.
Jia Heng still didn't know that Queen Song had also left for Hangzhou. Of course, whether Queen Song arrived in Hangzhou first or Jia Heng arrived in Hangzhou first was still a matter of debate.
