Since the beginning of autumn, the weather has been a little abnormal. It is no longer the crisp autumn air of previous years. Instead, it has been light rain for several days.
The roads Zhao Jun took on his way back were mostly dirt roads, lightly beaten by the rain, and the ground was muddy.
Marching like this will inevitably make people feel a little depressed.
Later generations once said, "It's good to be at home for a thousand days, but to go out for half a day." Zhao Yong felt that this sentence was quite appropriate.
If you live in the city, it will be better to stay at home on rainy days. At least many roads in the city are paved with stone slabs and stones.
This autumn rain has been falling for several days without stopping, making the road difficult to travel.
The army stopped and went. Three days passed and they still had not left Xingxiang territory.
Zhao Yong couldn't help but feel anxious. After discussing with Fei Yi, he decided to return to Handan first with his cavalry. Feiyi was left with the infantry, chariots and brigade to wait for the rain to stop before trekking again.
Thousands of cavalry immediately marched lightly, crossing Xingxiang from Bairen and crossing the Shahe River all the way south to Handan.
Three more days have passed.
At the Desheng Gate in Handan, the welcoming officials and the common people after the autumn harvest were crowding under the towering city gate... cheering loudly.
Another battle, another triumph, facing the cheers of his people, Zhao Yong still felt a surge in his heart.
After accepting the people's worship, the cavalry team passed through the lively crowd and ran straight to the palace city of King Zhao without making any further stops.
Seeing the familiar high wall again, Zhao Yong could no longer suppress his longing. He couldn't bear to take off his armor that was covered with mud and dust. He hurriedly took off his helmet and threw it to the palace attendant aside, then galloped through the outer palace gate. Heading towards the harem.
In the Longtai Palace, Queen Ji Yao received the news and led all the concubines out of the front palace, surrounded by the palace people.
As soon as the figure in front of me became clearer and clearer, the person I had been thinking about suddenly appeared in front of my eyes, and tears stained my face unconsciously, just like flowers covered with dewdrops.
"Your Majesty..." Ji Yao called softly, with a tone that was half choked and half surprised. Her beautiful eyes were looking forward to her, and her frowning face quietly melted away. She lifted up her skirt and couldn't wait to walk down the jade steps.
Zhao Yong hurriedly stepped forward to greet her, holding her arm with his palm: "Queen, excuse me."
Wiping away the traces of tears, the two of them were speechless, one was overjoyed and the other stared with tears in his eyes.
Ji Yao raised her head and looked at him, and said softly: "I heard from the palace people that the army of our master was delayed in Xingxiang for a long time. I... I didn't expect the king to come back so soon."
Zhao Yong looked at her. Ji Yao would not have changed much after half a year, but he always felt that after giving birth to a child, the eyes of the person in front of him were less lively and more mature like a mother.
This transformation seems to be instantaneous.
"It's been hard work for Yao'er these days... Is your health well?" Zhao Yong asked with concern.
A trace of shame flashed across Ji Yao's face, and she whispered: "The baby is already two months old..."
Zhao Yongmeng patted his forehead and calculated the time, it was only two months.
He immediately took Ji Yao's delicate hand and ran towards the palace surrounded by a group of people... He wanted to see his son.
Stepping into the lightly curtained room, the air suddenly became warm, and the charcoal in the stove on one side was emitting heat.
When Zhao Yong entered the room, he saw the little baby writhing left and right on the bed. Beside the bed, there were two palace maids making the baby happy.
Seeing the crowd entering the house, the palace people hurriedly came forward to bow their heads and salute.
The palace lady who was following Ji Yao stepped forward and brought the child, who was tightly wrapped in silk, to Zhao Yong.
Ji Yao stared at the infant child with longing eyes, and said lovingly: "Your Majesty, look at it."
The palace lady carefully handed the baby to Zhao Yong. Zhao Yong subconsciously wanted to reach out and hug it, but then he remembered that there was dirt in his hands.
After wiping it carefully with a handkerchief, he carefully took the child.
When I held it in my hands on the first day of junior high school, it felt heavy. He was just a fat boy. The child was looking at his face curiously. He didn't cry and just kicked him with his baby legs.
Zhao Yong smiled foolishly, then lifted up the baby's swaddling clothes and took a look...
At this time, he had a lot of emotions. After living two lives, he became a father for the first time.
This feeling is really magical. For a moment, it is as if the child in front of me is the continuation of my own life... Although he is still very young now, he will always grow old and die.
Then everything he has worked hard for will one day be given to one of his children.
And this child will inherit everything from him, and will be responsible for everything, for this vast country, for the future of this great empire and country, and even for all the people in the world.
Zhao Yong is selfish in his heart. He just wants to leave everything he has to his children, otherwise everything will be in vain.
In the future, he may not have only one child, or his throne may not be passed on to this child, but he still hopes that this child can inherit his position.
As a father, he has more responsibilities and obligations to protect his growth and give him the best education.
But everything in this world is full of variables. In this era, the infant mortality rate is also extremely high.
...Zhao Yong gently pinched the fat boy's face.
"My child, please call me father." Ji Yao taught from the side.
"When a child first learns to speak, he or she will usually call her mom first. Father, it's a little difficult to pronounce it." Zhao Yong said with a smile.
After saying that, he handed the child to the palace lady, who took it carefully.
Zhao Yong took off a ring-shaped jade pendant from his waist, wiped it clean carefully in his handkerchief, then placed it on the outer layer of the child's swaddling clothes, and said, "This is the first gift my father has given you."
This child is quite good and doesn't cry at all. Zhao Yong originally thought that the child would cry every day.
After teasing the child for a while, Ji Yao said from beside him: "Your Majesty, please take a bath and change clothes first."
Zhao Yong glanced at his stained armor, and suddenly nodded sheepishly: "I should change my clothes first, and then hold the baby."
Ji Yao smiled and shook her head: "How can the child dislike the king? I am waiting for the king to take a bath..."
Zhao Yong responded, glanced at the child, and walked towards the side hall.
...With the help of the eunuch and the maid, he first took off his heavy armor, then stepped back and took a bath by himself.
After so many years, Zhao Yong is still not used to being served by others unless he does that kind of thing.
Not long after, I heard slight footsteps behind me. When I looked back, Ji Yao had already changed into thin clothes and walked in through the grille.
Ji Yao silently bent forward and wiped his body for him.
Zhao Yong looked at the other party and couldn't help feeling a little guilty in his heart: "I suddenly feel a little sorry for Yao'er. I can't even be by your side when Yao'er gives birth. I apologize to Yao'er."
Ji Yao, who bowed her head and worked seriously, shook her head gently and responded softly: "I have never complained about the king, and the king does not need to apologize to me. I know that the king has never been a one-man person. He is the king, and all the people of Zhao State need a king, and the king should also make plans for the people of Zhao State... But now that the king is also a father, I only hope that the king can miss the child more."
Zhao Yong reached out his hand from the water and gently held Ji Yao's delicate hand.
"All the sisters in the harem need the king, and I have never been a jealous person..." Ji Yao whispered against his chest.
Zhao Yong did not speak, but quietly listened to the words of the person in front of him.
He caressed the slightly trembling shoulders and looked at the other person silently.
We haven't seen her for more than half a year. Upon closer inspection, Queen Ji Yao's face has become slightly rounder and her figure has become plumper. Her skin is still smooth and fair, and she still exudes a vague milky fragrance.
The transformation of a young girl into a young woman seems to go beyond appearance. Her temperament has also quietly changed a lot. Her formerly energetic expression has now become much deeper; especially her tone and expression seem to be a bit more confident and calm than before... Woman Becoming a mother seems to really change you as a person.
And after he became a father, what was his most direct feeling? excited? But he felt it shouldn't be.
Zhao Yong's mind suddenly rang with what Ji Yao had just said, "Think more about the child."
Suddenly, he was reminded of his seemingly destined miserable fate... to be starved to death!
He tried his best not to show his inner emotions, and then asked calmly: "Yao'er wrote to me last time asking me what name I should give my child. What name does Yao'er think is good?"
Ji Yao turned her head, with a loving smile on her face, her red lips slightly parted and said: "Green and red are called essays, red and white are called chapters; chapters of music books are called chapters; chapters are bright; chapters are also called chapters. It symbolizes the flag. I hope that when the child grows up, he will be as brave as the king... What does the king think of the word 'Zhang'?"
Zhao Yong's eyes couldn't help but twitch slightly, and he subconsciously said: "Zhao Zhang?"
"What do you think, Your Majesty?" Ji Yao asked again.
Zhao Yong said "hmm" subconsciously. His thoughts were already in chaos. The name Zhao Zhang is like a nightmare to him, a dream monster that he cannot escape. Why did Ji Yao think of Zhang Zi? Could it be that she really couldn't escape it?
...Then should his next son be named Zhao He?
no! He would never allow the name Zhao Zhang to appear in the annals of history again.
Zhao Yong forced himself to calm down.
But as the person beside his pillow, Ji Yao couldn't detect his subtle changes.
Ji Yao raised her head and asked softly: "Your Majesty, do you think the word 'Zhang' is inappropriate?"
Zhao Yong looked thoughtful and remained silent for a long time before saying: "You must be careful when choosing a name according to destiny. How about I wait for you to consult a wise man before naming the child?"
"I, my concubine, will listen to what the king says." Ji Yao said softly.
Seeing that Zhao Yong was so concerned about the child's name, she was also happy.
Zhao Yong nodded, maybe he was thinking too much. No matter what the name is, as long as you don't do stupid things, can you still starve to death?
Thinking like this, I felt a little relieved.
He tried his best not to show his inner emotions, silently pouring water and scrubbing the dust and sweat off his body, but his face always had a thoughtful look, and he didn't speak again for a long time.
From time to time, Ji Yao would softly ask "Is it hot or cold?" and other trivial matters, but Zhao Yong didn't listen carefully. He just responded with "hmm". People around him have become accustomed to this habit of his.
…
…
After bathing in hot water, Zhao Yong suddenly felt a little tired, and his body was so soft that he didn't want to move.
He put on soft silk clothes, sat on the soft brocade couch and closed his eyes to rest.
A young palace maid wearing a moon-white skirt walked out of the palace, holding a fragrant Bashu Cloud tea in her hand. At Ji Yao's signal, she placed two stacks of exquisite and delicious snacks and dried fruits.
Zhao Yong looked at the young and beautiful queen sitting next to him, feeling indescribably happy in his heart.
Not long ago, I was sleeping in the open air, sleeping in rough tents, and trekking on muddy roads. Now I feel that everything is available in the Zhao Palace, and my life is indeed luxurious and comfortable. However, he knew very well that even if he had such glory and wealth, he could never just enjoy it in the palace all day long. In this troubled world with frequent conflicts, all prosperity was built on countless corpses. If there is no sense of crisis and no fighting on all sides, everything in front of us will turn into smoke.
No one will pity the weak... Yan and Qin are a good example.
Thinking of the Yan Kingdom, Zhao Yong couldn't help but glance at Ji Yao on one side, and the more he looked at it, the more charming he felt. I always feel that the person in front of me is more charming than the young girl before. Looking at the jade-white neck and the dynamic and soft lines, Zhao Yong was suddenly stimulated. He seemed to smell the unique fragrance emanating from the woman's skin.
Ji Yao felt this and turned her head slightly, looking back with a smile: "Last month, Qin Prime Minister Zhao sent me a lot of gold, silver and silk with the help of Mrs. Mi. I have already transferred the money." The goods and gifts have been recorded in a book and collected into the treasury. I did not make any decision on my own, I just waited for the king to come back and make a decision."
Zhao Yongzheng stared at her exposed fair skin with a look of infatuation on his face, and he just nodded slightly when he heard this.
Just when she was about to take the next step, Ji Yao asked again: "Why did Qin send so many valuable gifts?"
Zhao Yong subconsciously said: "Qin wants to go to war with Bashu, but its troops are insufficient, so it naturally hopes to get assistance from Zhao. Just accept the things sent by the Qin people."
After hearing this, Ji Yao suddenly said: "That's it. I heard that Qin people valued profits, and I was still wondering why Qin became so generous. Sure enough, there was something else."
Zhao Yong didn't think much about it and replied casually: "Whether it is a matter of focusing on profit or despising righteousness, the purpose of the struggle between countries is never simple. Today Zhao is strong and Qin is weak, then the people of Qin will want to please Zhao. If Zhao is weak in the future, Decline and decline, that’s how it should be.”
"Will Zhao State go to war with South Korea one day?" Ji Yao murmured.
She could foresee that Zhao's expansion would not stop. In the near future, a life-and-death battle will inevitably break out between her mother's country and her husband's country... Where should she go then...
Zhao Yong was stunned for a moment, wondering why Ji Yao suddenly asked such a question, and he didn't know how to explain it for a moment. He did not want to discuss this sensitive topic with the other party at this time.
After pondering for a moment, he had to force himself to change the topic and said: "Did Yao'er smell something?"
Ji Yao really raised her nose and sniffed, then shook her head.
"Milk flavor..."
