"Squeak~"
Li Qing opened the door and stepped into the small courtyard.
"First, sir?" Wan Ling looked at him blankly and rubbed her eyes, as if she couldn't believe what she saw.
"It's me, I'm back." Li Qing said with a smile.
Only then was Wan Ling convinced that it was not a dream, her pretty face was full of surprise, and she jumped towards Li Qing.
"Sir, you are finally back. Wan Ling misses you so much." Wan Ling looked at him blankly, her eyes filled with tears.
"I miss you too." Li Qing wiped away her tears, "Stop crying, it won't look good."
"Yes." Wan Ling nodded slightly, her face slightly red.
After a while, Lianxiang Hongxiu came out of the room and was surprised and happy to see her husband back.
"gentlemen!"
"Yeah." Li Qing smiled, "Let's go into the house and talk."
When he came to the living room and sat down, the three women held their cheeks and looked at him so dreamily that he felt a little embarrassed.
"Ahem...what, have you made dinner?" Li Qing smiled, "I'm still hungry."
"What do you want to eat, sir?"
Li Qing said like an uncle: "It doesn't have to be too rich. Hongxiu can have braised pork, Lianxiang can have pork ribs soup, and Wanling can have fish soup."
"Servant, let's do it now." The three girls got up and ran to the east kitchen to start working.
Ding, bang, bang…
The small courtyard that used to be deserted suddenly became lively and full of fireworks. Li Qing leaned on the chair and felt very comfortable.
By the time the meal was ready, it was already dark.
Li Qing was really hungry, and he was so excited to catch some delicious food.
"You guys should eat too, don't just watch me eat."
"We're not hungry." The three women said with a smile, looking at him quietly with contented expressions on their faces.
Li Qing couldn't stop laughing and continued eating and drinking.
A quarter of an hour later, Li Qing had eaten and drank enough, and praised: "The cooking is good, it tastes better than what is cooked in restaurants outside."
Wan Ling said happily: "Sir, you like to eat it. I will make it every day from now on."
Li Qing smiled bitterly, "I'll leave tomorrow."
Wan Ling's smile froze, and Lianxiang Hongxiu also lost her joy.
"Sir, are you going on a business trip again?"
"Well, it's hard to disobey the emperor's order. If you don't go, you can't do it!" Li Qing sighed.
"Then...how long will it take?"
Li Qing thought for a while, "Don't worry, I will come back before the end of the year, maybe not until the end of the year."
He had never fought in a war or even seen ancient people marching. How could he know how long this trip would take?
The three girls were in a low mood. They finally had a home and a sense of belonging. The good times didn't last long. Li Qing left for half a year. They just came back one day and had to leave for another half a year. They felt really uncomfortable.
Wan Ling took the lead to put away her emotions and said with a show of face, "The emperor respects you sir. This is a good thing. Official business is important."
"Sir, there is no need to worry about the three maids. We will take good care of ourselves." Hong Xiu held her pink fist and encouraged, "Sir, you will definitely become a great official in the future."
Lianxiang's eyes were red, "Sir, you must take care of yourself when you go out."
They are like a little daughter-in-law’s parting words to her husband.
Although the status of these girls is just maids, Li Qing has never treated them coldly and respects them very much. Ordinary government officials treat their wives like this.
In their hearts, they already regard him as their man.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit sad, Li Qing smiled and said, "Sir, I finally came back, but I don't want to see you cry. Please be happy."
The three women nodded and smiled, looking really good-looking.
After chatting for a while, the three women got up, cleared the dishes, and then fetched water to clean themselves.
Li Qing took the opportunity to take a shower and leaned on the lounge chair under the fruit tree to admire the moon.
Above the sky, the bright moon is in the sky.
Li Qing blew the night wind and enjoyed the rare silence.
After a while, the three girls brought the table, lit candles, and placed candied melon seeds on the table. The four of them ate and chatted, laughing constantly.
…
Early in the morning.
Li Qing got up and opened the door. On the dining room table were steamed buns, eggs, rice porridge, and pickles...it was so rich, all made by the girls themselves.
There are prepared face wash and cotton handkerchief on the wooden stand, and salt is placed on the clean loofah pulp.
The girls got up in the middle of the night and started cooking, and they have been busy until now.
Li Qing naturally knew about this, but he did not stop him. He asked them to do something so that they could feel better.
"Sir, please wash up quickly and eat."
"okay."
Li Qing washed up and sat down to eat, the atmosphere was warm.
…
Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room.
As soon as Li Qing arrived, Xiao Guizi sent an imperial edict.
Zhu Yuanzhang put down what he was doing, raised his head and said, "We have already informed you of the funds and rewards. You can go directly to the Ministry of Household Affairs to get them. The map of the Mobei Grassland is not complete yet, and the exploration work must continue.
You also asked the old man from before to investigate, and the treatment will be as you decided before, and I will take care of it for you. "
"I obey the decree."
"Also, tell Zhu Di to work hard. If he fights this battle well, we will give him a big reward."
Don't worry, I will definitely deliver the cake you drew to him... Li Qing handed over his hand and said, "I obey your order."
Zhu Yuanzhang warned, "You are the supervisor of this battle and have the right to intervene in the military affairs. Don't be timid. Break when you need to and refute when you need to!"
I don’t understand anything, how dare I give blind orders... Li Qing reluctantly handed over his hand: "I understand!"
"Well, there is nothing else." Zhu Yuanzhang added, "This time the troops are dispatched, Duke Feng Sheng of the Song Dynasty will be the commander, and King Zhu Di of Yan will be the actual commander."
Li Qing was stunned for a moment and then understood the point.
To put it bluntly, Feng Sheng is a 'mascot', and Zhu Di is really responsible for fighting the war.
After leaving the palace, Li Qing immediately collected the funds and rewards, and then went to the Song Dynasty Duke's Mansion to announce the decree.
After leaving the Duke's Mansion of Song Dynasty, he went to Zhenfusi without stopping to fulfill his promise.
Li Qing still learned the skill of painting cakes from Lao Zhu, but he is kinder than Lao Zhu and can deliver all the cakes he paints.
All the subordinates received generous rewards, and they were all smiling and overjoyed.
Li Qing struck while the iron was hot, "The Emperor has decreed that the investigation work will continue and the treatment will be the same as before. Are you willing?"
"I am willing to do my humble job."
They had just received the money and were full of energy. How could they not want to? Going beyond the Great Wall was a hardship, but the reward was so generous that it was no longer a hardship.
Li Qing nodded with satisfaction and said to Liu Hao and Wang Qian, "Have a day of rest and set off for Peiping early tomorrow morning."
"I humble my duty and obey my orders."
The two said yes, and Wang Qian asked: "Sir, aren't you going this time?"
"Go, I'm leaving today."
"Please come with me, sir!" Wang Qian said, "There will also be someone to take care of you on the way."
"Yes, sir." Liu Hao followed.
"I have other things to do. Just do your part and don't worry about me." Li Qing waved his hand, "Okay, it's a rare day to have a free day. Let's go back and reunite with our families. Take a rest and do your best."
"Yes, I resign from my humble position."
After they left, Li Qing went to the inner hall again and said goodbye to Mao Xiang and several colleagues.
After finishing my busy work, it was already noon.
After going home for lunch, he gave the remaining reward to the three girls, "It's time to eat, it's time to spend time. Don't starve yourself to lose weight. Sir, I like meat that is juicy and soft."
"My maid has remembered it."
The three girls agreed with red eyes.
Wan Ling sniffed and said, "Sir, our family already has enough money, so we don't need this at all. If we are poor and want to be rich, you should take it with you."
"I have some with me." Li Qing said with a smile, "Besides, business trips naturally cost public money. It's a waste to spend your own money."
The three girls were so amused that their sadness at farewell also faded a bit.
Li Qing smiled and said, "Live a good life. I'll be back after finishing my official business."
After a few brief words of explanation, Li Qing mounted his tall horse and whipped his horse.
He was not with Feng Sheng. Tens of thousands of troops were sent out, and food, grass, equipment, etc. needed to be prepared in advance.
Although Zhu Di was responsible for this matter and Li Qing did not need to worry about it, he still had to convey the imperial edict to him first.
Galloping all the way, changing horses without stopping, it only took him more than half a month to reach Peiping again.
This time, Lee Sin didn't have any pretense.
Wearing a flying fish suit, an embroidered spring knife, and holding an imperial edict, he walked into the gate of Prince Yan's Mansion.
…
