The time has entered June.
The sudden heavy rain cooled down the dry and hot weather in Bianjing.
In Zhongjinghou's mansion, the servants were in a hurry, and most of them had sorrow in their eyes.
A few days ago, the court was full of good news, and a piece of good news shocked the capital.
Everyone thought that Cao Bin was going to return home in triumph.
Uncle Fu, the chief steward of the Hou Mansion, has already started preparing for the wedding banquet. He will only wait for Cao Bin to come back to celebrate the promotion of Uncle Zhongjing.
No one expected that in just two days, the situation would take a turn for the worse.
The Liao Kingdom suddenly sent troops, leaving the Song Army in desperate situation.
In Du Shiniang's courtyard, Pang Yanyan and Master Li were waiting anxiously outside, watching the maids and wives coming and going.
Du Shiniang was pregnant last fall and is now nearly ten months old.
She went into labor suddenly today, which was expected.
Fortunately, before Cao Bin left, many Wenpo doctors had been prepared and let them live in the Hou Mansion.
Although Pang Yanyan and others were young and inexperienced, they did not panic.
Moreover, Uncle Fu had already gone to the palace to invite family friends of the Hou family and Dr. Wang, just to ensure that Du Shiniang gave birth smoothly.
Not long after, a woman came out holding a baby and said:
"Congratulations, Madam, Aunt Du has given birth to a daughter!"
Pang Yanyan and others hurriedly came forward to watch, and then swarmed into Du Shiniang's bedroom with their children.
"Sister, look how cute this child is."
Pang Yanyan carefully reported the child to Du Shiniang's bed and said happily.
Du Shiniang's face was still a little pale, she glanced at the child with a look of sadness and said:
"Sorry to trouble my sister, please take care of her for a few days."
Seeing her unhappy expression and the four girls looking confused, Zhang Zhenniang asked carefully:
"What's wrong with my sister? Do you dislike boys who are not boys?"
Master Li also advised:
"Don't worry, Shi Niang. Cao Yan likes girls very much. If he wants to have a boy, he can just have another baby."
When Du Shiniang heard this, she shook her head and looked to the west with blurred eyes, as if her eyes had passed through walls and obstacles and landed in a very far distance:
"As soon as this girl came into the world, Cao Yun was in a worrying situation..."
Pang Yanyan and others looked at each other, it turned out that this was the reason for her.
Master Li said speechlessly:
"You will have random thoughts. The battlefield is so changeable. What does it have to do with children?"
"Besides, Cao Yan is both civil and military, how could he lose the battle?"
Sai Xishi also said:
"Don't worry, sister. Cao Yan has a sedan and other people to protect him, as well as a bloody horse. Even if he loses the battle, he can still run back."
Everyone was just trying to comfort her, but when they heard Sai Xishi's explanation, the worries in their suppressed hearts suddenly relaxed, and they all smiled and said:
"Yes, it doesn't matter if we lose the battle, Cao Yan will definitely be able to come back."
Only Zhang Zhenniang said more confidently:
"I have never been worried. Uncle himself is a god-like figure. How could he lose?"
Everyone was speechless, but their mood was completely different from before.
At this moment, a maid ran in happily and said:
"Ladies, my uncle has sent someone back..."
When everyone heard this, their spirits were shaken and they were even more happy. Pang Yanyan hurriedly said:
"I'll see you in person."
Du Shiniang said:
"I want to listen too!"
That "Swallow" was sent back by Cao Bin more than ten days ago, and he was counting the days when Du Shiniang would give birth.
I just didn't expect that the timing would be so good. It was just the birth date of the child.
To be more comprehensive, he also prepared gold locks for girls and jade pendants for boys.
After sending away the "Swallow" who delivered the letter, Li Shishi said speechlessly when he saw Du Shiniang playing with the gift Cao Bin had sent back.
"That's for the kids..."
Master Li took the baby in his arms, coaxed him and said with pity:
"It's so pitiful that you have an unreliable mother-in-law. She doesn't love you, but my aunt does!"
At the same time, in a mansion in Xiangyang.
The former Princess of Xiangyang was teasing the baby boy in her arms with a smile on her face. She had just given birth.
Although she no longer has the status of a princess, no one dares to mess with her.
All the powerful local gentry know that she has a backing.
Otherwise, how could a deposed princess own more than ten acres of land in Hanshui Port?
That's a mouth-watering industry.
Even Kou Zhun, the governor of Xiangzhou, couldn't help but want to intervene in the planning.
However, due to various obstacles from local officials, the matter could only be settled.
Although Cao Bin left Xiangyang, many officials in the government office were his die-hard supporters.
It is said that the county magistrate is a smooth man and the official is an iron man.
As long as there is no comprehensive reshuffle of Xiangzhou government offices, Cao Bin's influence will never be eradicated.
He has always been concerned about benefit sharing, and those people will consciously protect him even for the sake of benefit.
"Madam, do you want the young master to go to the capital to recognize his marriage?"
The personal maid asked.
Princess Xiangyang's pretty face suddenly turned cold and said:
"What kind of marriage do you recognize? This is the prince's posthumous son. Don't talk nonsense."
"If this word spreads, let's see how I punish you!"
I don't know how comfortable it is to be the master of my own family, and there aren't as many rules as there were in the palace, so why bother to be restrained by others?
And she couldn't afford to lose this person.
When the maid heard this, she had no choice but to keep silent.
She is a personal maid. Even when the princess comes to see someone off, she is the one helping her. How could she not know who the child is?
Since the princess didn't want to admit it, she certainly wouldn't say anything more.
The Imperial Palace of the Song Dynasty.
After discussing military affairs with ministers for a day, the emperor returned to Funing Palace, rubbing his sore waist.
The 101st day of missing Cao Bin.
Seeing Concubine Pang coming to deliver clothes, the emperor shook his head bitterly and said regretfully:
"I shouldn't have sent talented people to lead the troops."
"Now the northwest is capsized and the army is surrounded. I don't know if he can escape."
Hearing this, Concubine Pang's hands trembled, and her eye circles suddenly turned red:
"The officials... send someone quickly to respond!"
Although she is in the palace, she is not very sensitive to news from the previous court, especially from the front line.
Now she suddenly heard that Cao Bin was in a life-and-death crisis, and she suddenly became anxious.
The emperor sighed and said:
"Why don't I want to rescue them? But our troops are stretched thin, and there's nothing I can do."
"Now not only the northwest, I am afraid that the Song Dynasty is in danger of overthrowing."
These days, his hair has turned a lot gray from worry.
Although the Song Dynasty claimed to have 800,000 forbidden troops, most of them were stationed in the border areas and various places. There were only about 100,000 people in the capital area.
The Battle of Xixia resulted in a direct loss of nearly 300,000 people, of which more than 200,000 were on the Forbidden Army list.
At this time, both the emperor and the ministers had given up hope of the last 100,000 people surviving.
Therefore, they have been included as losses.
The most important thing now is to deploy defenses in various places to protect the Song Dynasty and Kaifeng.
Because with one careless move, the Liao Kingdom will attack Bianjing!
The country is in danger, and they can no longer take care of Cao Bin and the Yang family.
When Concubine Pang heard this, she almost softened to the ground and said sadly:
"how so?"
