The evening breeze rustled.
Flicking the hair beside her ears also teased the girl's heartstrings.
In the attic of the small courtyard, the dim light shines through the window, reflecting a graceful figure.
After Mashuyao entered the attic, he ran up the clattering stairs to the inner room on the second floor.
On the soft couch by the window, Lin Wanqing sat cross-legged in front of the low table.
There is a cup of fragrant tea and a plate of preserved fruits on the low table.
Lin Wanqing held her chin in one hand and held the storybook in the other hand, reading with gusto.
After all, they are mother and daughter. This lazy and comfortable posture cannot be said to have nothing to do with Ma Shuyao in the afternoon, it can only be said to be exactly the same.
Women's entertainment activities in the Song Dynasty were countless times more than those in the Southern Song Dynasty and the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Especially in the city of Tokyo, you can see many women even in gambling houses late at night.
However, Yidu County is not as good as Tokyo City.
When talking about nights in the Song Dynasty, many people will think of the brightly lit Tokyo city, singing and dancing every night, and blooming flowers.
However, there is only one in Tokyo City.
Curfews are still in place in prefectures and county towns in other state capitals. When the hour comes, all shops, teahouses and restaurants will close one after another.
For a widowed woman like Lin Wanqing, the only entertainment in the evening was reading.
"Yuyou is back."
Hearing the footsteps, Lin Wanqing turned her head slightly and asked casually: "Who was invited to the banquet at home today?"
Such is her temperament that she doesn't like trivial matters or socializing.
Generally, she would not go to a banquet at home if it was not necessary.
In contrast, she would rather swing in the courtyard, fly a kite, or recline on a soft couch and read a book.
"Please...husband."
Mashuyao subconsciously wanted to call the county magistrate, but as soon as the words came to her lips, she suddenly realized that Han Zhen was already her husband-in-law, so she immediately changed her name.
"Clam?"
Lin Wanqing was stunned.
A trace of shyness flashed in Ma Shuyao's eyes, and her white and tender little hands subconsciously held the knife tightly.
It was only then that Lin Wanqing discovered that there was an extra knife in her daughter's hand.
Lin Wanqing put down the script in her hand and asked with a blank expression: "What husband?"
Seeing her mother's coquettish look, Ma Shuyao pursed her lips and said with a smile, "My father has found a husband for me."
"How could I not know about this... such a big thing?" Lin Wanqing looked surprised.
Her daughter was promised to another family, and she, the mother, didn't even know.
In fact, the head of the family, Mayanmin, made the decision himself. Even though Lin Wanqing was the biological mother, she had no say.
After all, this is a matter of great importance to the continuation of the Ma family.
Besides, Ma Shuyao was promised as a concubine, but she was not a wife, so she didn't have so many complicated etiquette.
Ma Shuyao said: "Didn't I ask someone to invite my mother to a banquet in the evening? She said she was sick and didn't want to go."
"..."
Lin Wanqing was silent for a moment.
She thought it was just an ordinary banquet, so she excused herself from going because she was ill.
After coming back to her senses, Lin Wanqing immediately asked: "Whose husband have you promised?"
"Auntie, guess what."
Ma Shuyao smiled slyly.
Lin Wanqing pondered for a moment and then said, "Han Zhen?"
Since the disaster during the reign of Zhenzong, the Ma family has kept a very low profile and never married into wealthy families.
The marriage partners of the children in the clan all come from clean and scholarly families.
Therefore, first of all, we can exclude the big families in the city, and it seems that Han Zhen is the only one who can make Mayanmin so eager to settle the marriage.
Thinking of this, Lin Wanqing couldn't help but recall the ridiculous dream last night and the ridiculous things in the utility room.
And this man has now become his son-in-law.
This made Lin Wanqing feel ashamed and guilty, feeling ashamed to face her daughter.
Seeing her uncertain expression, Ma Shuyao just said that she was dissatisfied, so she stepped forward and asked cautiously: "Does Aniang disapprove of this marriage?"
"No!"
Lin Wanqing shook her head, suppressed the shame in her heart, and said softly: "Then Han Zhen also met my mother yesterday. He can be called a hero. If you marry him, you will not be wronged."
Hearing this, Ma Shuyao smiled again in her eyes and explained, "She's not the wife, she's the concubine."
"How...how is this a concubine?"
Lin Wanqing was shocked, stood up, and murmured to herself: "No, I want to find your grandpa for my mother's sake!"
A concubine has no status and can only be regarded as half a master in the family, and can be given away at will.
When Su Shi was in trouble, he gave all his concubines to a friend named Liang.
Later, one of the concubines gave birth to a son, the now famous hidden prime minister Liang Shicheng.
"Aniang!"
Ma Shuyao hurriedly stopped her and advised: "My father has his own considerations about this matter, and I am willing to do so. And... and, just now at the banquet, I had already toasted the Hexin wine."
At the end of the sentence, Ma Shuyao's voice became as thin as the sound of a mosquito.
Lin Wanqing smiled bitterly: "Yuyou, you are usually so smart, how come you are so confused when facing such a big thing? Once you become a concubine, how are you different from a maid?"
Ma Shuyao leaned close to her ear and whispered: "If it is promised to an ordinary person, it will naturally be a concubine. But if it is an emperor, it will be a concubine!"
These words were almost clear, and Lin Wanqing naturally understood. Her expression changed slightly, and she said calmly: "Weng Weng is so optimistic about him?"
"Um!"
Ma Shuyao nodded.
Mayanmin loved Ma Shuyao no less than she did.
Lin Wanqing knew this well.
Since Mayanmin was so eager to promise Youyou to Han Zhen as his concubine, he naturally considered it carefully.
Lin Wanqing was silent for a moment, and then sighed: "The boat is done, that's all."
As she was talking, she suddenly discovered that the sachet that Mashu Yao had been wearing around her waist was missing.
Looking at the hand knife she had been holding, she suddenly understood.
That's fine. Although she is a concubine, Han Zhen is a hidden dragon after all. No one can say what achievements she will make in the future.
If it really happens, then their Ma family will indeed make a lot of money.
The most important thing is that it seems that Youyou likes Han Zhen very much, even giving away her favorite personal belongings.
When Lin Wanqing sat down again, Ma Shuyao sat cross-legged next to her and chirped: "I don't know something. When I sent my husband out, we chatted for a while. I found that my husband is actually very easy to get along with, unlike me. As vicious as I imagined.”
Lin Wanqing joked: "I don't know who it was, but it was scared into a little quail yesterday."
Ma Shuyao picked up a piece of preserved fruit and put it into her mouth, saying vaguely: "It wasn't just me yesterday, my mother was also frightened by my husband."
"The husband who bites you on the left, the husband who bites you on the right is shameless."
Lin Wanqing smiled again, reached out and pinched her cheek gently.
"Well!"
Ma Shuyao let out a soft cry, slapped her mother's hand away, and said angrily: "Mom, if you pinch it again, it will swell."
Lin Wanqing pursed her lips and said with a smile: "You have promised me everything. If you don't squeeze it now, you will have no chance in the future."
"My husband asked me to stay at home for a while longer. When the situation becomes more stable, he can then organize a grand ceremony to welcome me through the door." Ma Shuyao explained as she rubbed her cheeks.
"He does love you."
Lin Wanqing couldn't help but think of her husband.
But no matter how I think about it, my husband’s cheeks are always blurry in my memory...
…
…
The next day.
Early in the morning, Han Zhen left the city and came to the Wuwei Army barracks.
In the military camp, 1,500 Qingzhou Army officers and soldiers were ready to go.
This was a surprise attack, and it was important to travel lightly. Naturally, it was impossible to carry a large amount of food and baggage.
Each person only carried three days' worth of dry food and a simple medical kit.
Apart from that, there was nothing else, and even the armor on his body was replaced by half-length iron armor.
Although the protection is reduced, it is more than twice as light as the heavy armor and can fully withstand emergency marches.
If you wear a heavy armor weighing forty or fifty kilograms, you may not be able to walk twenty miles a day.
Standing on the school field, looking around at the soldiers in front of him, Han Zhen said loudly: "This battle is the first time that our Qingzhou Army has shown its edge. Are you confident that we can win?"
"have!"
Fifteen hundred soldiers shouted at the top of their lungs with astonishing force.
There was no fear on the faces of these Qingzhou troops, but excitement in their eyes.
At this moment, they had only one thought in their minds.
Kill the enemy and get the reward!
Looking at the high-spirited soldiers, Han Zhen nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "In that case, I will prepare wine, meat and rewards, waiting for your triumphant return!"
"Wan Sheng!!!"
The deafening shouts rang out again, echoing over the military camp.
Withdrawing his gaze, Han Zhen turned to look at Nie Dong and warned: "Although Zhang Wanxian's dare-chi army is a mob, you must not underestimate the enemy. You must know that when a lion fights a rabbit, you must use your full strength!"
Strategically despise the enemy, tactically pay attention to the enemy!
"The last one will save you!"
Nie Dong looked solemn.
Han Zhen turned his gaze to Shi Wenhui again and said sternly: "You claim to have the talent to manage the world, and now I will give you this opportunity. It depends on whether you are a mediocre person who talks on paper or a capable minister and official."
Shi Wenhui bowed and thanked him sincerely: "The county magistrate has given me the opportunity to meet me, and I am deeply grateful to you. I will definitely live up to my mission this time."
"Go!"
Han Zhen ordered.
Nie Dong nodded and shouted angrily: "The whole army obeys the order and sets off!"
Soon, under the leadership of Nie Dong, 1,500 soldiers quickly walked out of the military camp.
Han Zhen was about to leave when he saw other soldiers in the camp looking envious.
Seeing this, he couldn't help but comfort him: "Don't worry, there will be a time when you go into battle to kill the enemy. Practice well during this period, don't fail to get military merit by then, but end up losing your life first!"
…
…
But it was said that after Liu Qi led the cavalry battalion to set off yesterday, he caught up with the counter-rebellion army at noon the next day.
It was not that Liu Qi and the others were traveling day and night. After all, they were heavy cavalry. Even if they had one person and four horses, they would not be able to travel any faster.
Mainly because the Wuwei Army moved too slowly.
Luo Sha and Yu Chaohuan did not want to go out of the city to quell the rebellion at all, so sending troops this time was really helpless.
The two of them thought that their soldiers were not much better, so the entire army had no fighting spirit from top to bottom.
An army that does not want to fight will naturally march slowly, and it will be delayed as long as possible.
So in a few days, they only walked less than sixty miles.
On the official road, a spy rode a war horse and galloped to Liu Qi's side and reported: "Batalion Commander, the army is three miles ahead!"
Hearing this, Liu Qi ordered: "The whole army will rest for a quarter of an hour. After a quarter of an hour, put on your armor and change your horses!"
He was not sure whether Luo Sha and Yu Chaohuan would hand over their military power obediently, and he had already prepared for the worst.
If the other party dares to resist, they will be suppressed by force.
Five hundred versus ten thousand, which seemed like a huge disparity in numbers, was actually a one-sided massacre.
What is the concept of more than five hundred elite heavy cavalry?
Liu Qi, who grew up in the border army, knows this best.
Don't think that the number is very small. Even among the border troops in the northwest, there is no such a heavy cavalry.
You know, with all the strength of the Xixia country, they could only manage to get 3,000 iron kites together.
Although the Tielin Army of the Liao Kingdom was large in number, it could only be called an elite force of tens of thousands.
PS: My grandma was transferred out of the intensive care unit two days ago and had a successful operation, so the author has been taking care of her in the hospital these two days. I take care of her during the day and my dad takes care of her at night.
I didn't update quickly in the first place, but now something like this happened again. I feel very sorry for the readers, so I would like to say sorry here.
The old lady is recovering well now. The doctor said she can go home in a while. When the work is done, I will try to make up for the debt.
(End of chapter)
