Youshi, Chang'an City
Although Qin Ming insists on exercising every day, he feels a little exhausted at this time. After coming out of the mansion in the morning, except for resting for an hour in Ximeng Tower, most of the time was spent riding the carriage.
In one afternoon, Qin Ming only visited the Hejian County Prince's Mansion, Yiguo Duke's Mansion and Langya Marquis Mansion. What makes Qin Ming a little puzzled is that the Chinese New Year is coming soon, and Duke Yi and Langya Hou are not in the house.
He heard from the two housekeepers who came out to receive him that Duke Yi Guo and Marquis Langya had received His Majesty's order and had gone to the military camp.
This made Qin Ming a little confused. It was Chinese New Year and there was no war. It was necessary to stay in the military camp all day without going home.
Is it so hard to be a soldier under Li Ershou? It is also said that there will be a war in the border area recently or next year, so Li Er is training his troops in advance.
Qin Ming received too little information, so he couldn't figure out what was going on. Because Qin Qiong and Niu Jinda were not in the mansion, Qin Ming simply did not enter the mansion.
After instructing Qin Da and others to hand over the gifts to the housekeepers of the two mansions, they left with their guards.
Although Qin Ming did not stop at Yiguo Gongfu and Langyahou Mansion. But because Chang'an City is so big, the uncles Qin Ming visited lived relatively scattered.
So it was not until the end of the Shen Dynasty that Qin Ming and his party came to Huaidefang, in front of Cheng Yaojin's mansion.
"Sir, we have arrived at Duke Lu's mansion."
Hearing this, Qin Ming opened the car curtains and waved to Qin Da:
"You go to the concierge first and hand over the greeting card. We will go down in a while."
"Yes, sir."
After speaking, Qin Da walked towards the concierge of Duke Lu's Mansion.
Qin Ming put down the curtains and looked down at Xiao Changxi, who was already asleep in his arms. Xiao Changxi reached out and gently patted her back twice and said:
"Xi'er...Xi'er..."
Xiao Changxi opened her eyes in a daze, and saw Qin Mingzheng looking at her with a gentle face, and was a little dazed for a moment.
Qin Ming kissed Xiao Changxi's little face, put his arm around Xiao Changxi's slim waist, took the opportunity to pat Xiao Changxi's rabbit twice and said:
"Xi'er, we're here, it's time to get off the carriage."
Originally, Xiao Changxi's face was a little red because she had just woken up. After being suddenly attacked by Qin Ming, his face became even more rosy.
But when she heard from Qin Ming that she had arrived at Duke Lu's residence, Xiao Changxi no longer cared about her shyness.
He hurriedly broke away from Qin Ming's arms, lowered his head to straighten his wrinkled clothes, and said with some embarrassment:
"Well, then, sir, let's get out of the car quickly."
Qin Ming looked at Xiao Changxi who was a little flustered, and the corners of his mouth turned up unconsciously.
He stood up and opened the car curtain, then glanced at Xiao Changxi behind him, and then said:
"Okay, then I'll go down and wait. You just woke up and it's cold outside. I'll come back down after a while."
Qin Ming jumped off the carriage, walked to Qin Da, and asked softly:
"Is Mr. Lu Guo in the mansion?"
When Qin Da heard this and was about to answer, a figure appeared at the door of Duke Lu's mansion. There were still about ten meters away from Qin Ming, so he shouted:
"Master Qin, you are here. The young master has been talking about you many times these days. Come into the house with me quickly."
When Qin Ming heard this, he looked up and saw Cheng Quan, the housekeeper of the Cheng Mansion, walking towards his group of people happily.
Qin Ming smiled and was about to salute Cheng Quan. Cheng Quan quickly stopped Qin Ming and said:
"Mr. Qin, you can't do this, you can't do it. You are the brother of our young master. I can't bear your courtesy. You and I can go into the house quickly. The young master will accept it now." News of your arrival has arrived.”
Qin Ming smiled and said:
"Steward Cheng, I'm here to bring some New Year's gifts to Uncle Cheng and Aunt Cheng. You ask the people in the house to take them."
As he spoke, Qin Ming pointed to Qin Da and the others as they unloaded the box from the carriage.
Cheng Quan called the servants in the mansion and came out to move things. After Cheng Quan made arrangements, he looked at Qin Ming and said:
"Sir, please."
Qin Ming turned around and looked at Xiao Changxi who had just got off the carriage and said:
"Chang Xi, come in with me."
Xiao Changxi nodded after hearing this and followed Qin Ming into Cheng Mansion.
After a while, Qin Ming and Xiao Changxi followed Cheng Quan to the front hall of Cheng Mansion.
What Qin Ming didn't expect was that not only the two brothers Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang were sitting in the front hall at this time, but Cui, the wife of Lu Guogong, was also sitting on the main seat in the front hall.
Qin Ming whispered something in Xiao Changxi's ear, then walked a few steps to Mrs. Cui and saluted:
"Nephew, meet Aunt Cheng."
"Xiao Changxi, I have met the Duke's wife."
Ms. Cui looked at the young man in front of her and the veiled woman behind him with a smile on her face. He raised his hand lightly and said:
"My dear nephew, please sit down quickly. Madam Xiao will also sit down."
The two stood up and said:
"Thank you, Auntie."
"Thank you, Madam."
When Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang saw Qin Ming and his mother saluting, they jumped off their chairs, each of them took Qin Ming's arm and said excitedly:
"Brother Qin, I haven't seen you for a while. I thought you wouldn't come to Chang'an before the Chinese New Year."
"Brother Qin, please stay here tonight and let's continue having fun tonight."
Qin Ming looked at the eager looks in their eyes and said with some embarrassment:
"Maybe not tonight. I agreed in the afternoon. Prince Hejian will go to his mansion to have a drink."
When Cheng Chumo and Cheng Chuliang heard this, the light in their eyes dimmed a lot, but they still enthusiastically pulled Qin Ming to sit down.
Ms. Cui, who was sitting in the chair, saw the looks in her two sons' eyes and thought for a moment:
"My dear nephew, it's getting late. You should stay at the house tonight. Otherwise, when your uncle Cheng comes back in two days, he will find out that he asked you to live in someone else's house at such a late hour. He will blame your aunt for no reason."
After saying this, Ms. Cui called out the whole process.
"Cheng Quan, you go outside the mansion and arrange for Qin Ming's guards to enter the courtyard of the mansion. Then send someone to the Hejian County Prince's Mansion. Say it's too late and I'll let Qin Ming stay in the mansion for one night."
"It's ma'am."
After saying this, Cheng Quan walked out the door. Qin Ming couldn't refuse anymore when he saw this.
At this time, Qin Ming suddenly thought of something and asked:
"Auntie, isn't Uncle Cheng in the house too? I visited Uncle Qin and Uncle Niu in the afternoon, but they are not in the house either? In previous years, Uncle Cheng and the others had to wait for the New Year's Day before they could return to the house on that day?"
Cui sighed and said:
"In previous years, your uncle Cheng and the others didn't have to wait for the New Year to return home. Your uncle Cheng doesn't know why your majesty asked them to go to the military camp to reorganize the army."
Qin Ming frowned and said:
"Is there going to be a war next year?"
Mrs. Cui shook her head, frowned her beautiful eyebrows and said:
"I heard from your Uncle Cheng that there won't be any big wars next year, and he doesn't know what your Majesty's plans are for this arrangement."
When Qin Ming heard this, he became even more confused. It seemed that if he could see Li Er tomorrow, he would have to ask around the corner.
After all, there is a government military system now. If there is a war, many young and middle-aged farmers in Zhuangzi will have to join the army.
