The atmosphere on the wine table was warm as people moved glasses and changed glasses. Li Hong stood upright at the entrance of the table, barely able to swallow his saliva.
Until the end of the show, he didn't even get a bite of hot food.
After everything was done, he still had to be responsible for taking Zhu Yong back after he drank too much.
…
Shi Heng looked outside the tent and said thoughtfully: "Do you really think...Zhu Yong can take over from you?"
"What do you think?"
"That's enough." Shi Heng shook his head slightly, "He is mature and well versed in officialdom, but these are not all advantages. He is too sophisticated and may have difficulty sticking to the bottom line." ωＷω.ＧoＮЬ.οrＧ
Li Qing was surprised: "I can't tell, you actually have such knowledge."
"What's that?" Shi Heng said with a straight face, "How can I say that I am also the Marquis of Wu Qing, the admiral and commander-in-chief of the army, how can I be a reckless man that I don't understand?"
Li Qing curled his lips and was too lazy to argue with him, "You don't have to replace me, he can't replace me!
The emperor also does not allow a second Li Qing to appear. He is not taking over my squad, but one of the banners of the Ming army. "
Shi Heng was startled for a moment and nodded slowly: "That's true. Not to mention the emperor, I'm afraid those officials won't allow people like you to exist anymore."
He still felt regretful, "To be honest, you are only in your early fifties. With your physical fitness, it will not be a problem for you to work for another thirty years, so why are you in such a hurry to quit?
With your ability, if you don’t retreat, no one can do anything to you. Shi Heng was puzzled, "Besides, the emperor treats you quite well, and your presence can restrain the power of the ministers. He will not think of dealing with you, at least not for a long time." "
Li Qing took a sip of wine and smiled: "I said before, I quit just because I want to quit, no other reason. After these years, I am also tired and want to take a good rest."
"Alas... What a pity." Shi Heng knew Li Qing's temper and did not try to persuade him anymore. Instead, he asked, "What are you going to do with your godson?"
"I haven't thought about it yet, let's talk about it after we go back this time." Li Qing put down his wine glass and said: "Living here is really difficult for you now. When the temperature gets warmer, you can go back and enjoy your life. "
Shi Heng said in a low voice: "What do you mean? I only care about my own enjoyment and don't care..."
"It's the same with or without you." Li Qing interrupted him ruthlessly, teasing: "I'm already this old, what else can I do, just go back and take care of myself."
Shi Heng: "..."
He knew what Li Qing was capable of. His words were a little harsh, but they were not adulterated at all, and they were also for his own good.
He is indeed not in good health, and the conditions do not allow him to show off his strength.
After a moment of silence, Shi Heng said, "When will you be able to finish your work and get back on track?"
"It's hard to say. No matter how fast it is, it will still be in the second half of the year."
"Give me an accurate answer."
Li Qing thought for a moment and said, "I should be able to go back before the Chinese New Year this year."
"Yeah... OK." Shi Heng stopped being pretentious, "Then I'll go back after the first lunar month. By the way, do you need me to help you bring a message to the emperor?"
"Use! I want food and money!" Li Qing said, "After the fifteenth day, we will start a large-scale land reclamation. From farming to harvest, it will take a long time, and the food can't support it right now."
Shi Heng hesitated and said: "Food is easy to solve, but silver... the emperor may not approve it."
"It will be approved. Although he is stingy, he can handle important matters clearly. All you need to do is bring the message." Li Qing smiled, lowered his head and sipped his wine.
Shi Heng was so greedy that he reached for the wine bottle, but was slapped before he even touched the back of his hand.
"Stop drinking, you've exceeded the limit today."
"..."
——
Li Qing continued to enjoy his leisure time. Except for occasionally secretly observing his godson, he spent the rest of his time dealing with "Water Margin".
During the period before the Lantern Festival, not only Li Qing but also everyone lived a very relaxed time. This was recognized as the most leisurely time of the year.
However, Li Hong is anything but leisurely. Now he has really become a soldier.
Under Li Qing's instruction, Zhu Yong no longer treated Li Hong favorably, without giving him any privileges, and often assigned him some trivial tasks.
Even... including serving tea and pouring water.
Li Hong doesn't like this kind of life. He still wants to do something meaningful, rather than doing something like a servant's work.
On this day, after giving Zhu Yong water to wash his feet, Li Hong couldn't bear it anymore and came to Li Qing to complain:
"Godfather, I don't want to be a soldier anymore."
"Okay," Li Qing nodded, "You've been away for a long time. Marquis Wu Qing will return to the capital in a while. You can go back to Jinling with him."
"Ah?" Li Hong was stunned for a moment and said hurriedly: "Godfather, you misunderstood me. I mean...can you arrange an errand for me that will help me improve?"
"How do you want to progress?"
"I... how about you let me do the reconnaissance?" Li Hong said tentatively.
Li Qing shook his head: "No need, we have figured out the topographic map of a hundred miles radius, and determined the approximate direction of the enemy's invasion. There is no need to do such meaningless things."
"Then I'll go and guard the main road ahead." Li Hong said.
Li Qing said calmly: "Your family runs the army? You can do whatever you want?"
"Godfather..." Li Hong said with a sneer, "You are the commander-in-chief, this is all you say."
Li Qing sneered and shook his head, saying: "I'll give you two choices, either continue to be a soldier, or get out of here."
"Godfather..."
"Call the Marshal!"
"...Now that I know about the commander-in-chief, I will just continue to be a soldier." Li Hong was not angry, but mostly did not understand.
He knew that his godfather was by no means a pedantic person, nor was he someone who would wrong his godson just to show off his selflessness.
Speaking of sharpening... what can be sharpened by serving tea and pouring water?
After thinking about it, Li Hong came to the final conclusion: My godfather didn't want me to pursue an official career, so he wanted me to be a second-generation scholar who would just hang around and wait to die, so he deliberately made things difficult for me.
Godfather, godfather, I'm only in my early twenties, I still have a long life, I just want to make progress, what's my crime... Li Hong is angry.
At this moment, the almost unprecedented rebellious psychology grew crazily.
Aren't they just soldiers? Just do it!
…
The comfortable life passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was time to eat Yuanxiao again.
However, currently outside the customs, Li Qing failed to eat glutinous rice balls.
Having been in the Loop for so long, the overall situation is almost developing according to Li Qing's expectations, but there are exceptions, such as... the climate.
Li Qing's original plan was to open up wasteland after the Lantern Festival. Unexpectedly, as soon as the Lantern Festival was over, it snowed heavily for several days.
Reluctantly, Li Qing had no choice but to put his plans on hold and wait for the weather to warm up.
In early February, the ice and snow began to melt and the weather warmed up.
Shi Heng, who was dissatisfied with his physical appearance, said goodbye to Li Qing and prepared to go back.
He was already over sixty, and his physical condition was not in good shape. Of course, he didn't want to stay in this inhospitable place for a long time.
Li Qing specially called Li Hong and asked him if he wanted to return to Beijing together.
"It's been more than half a year, let's go home and take a look!"
"I won't reply." Li Hong was decisive and his tone was firm.
Li Qing smiled and said, "Aren't you afraid that your Uncle Zhu will marry your sister Wanqing to someone else?"
Li Hong was stunned and hummed: "Sister Wanqing is not old enough to leave the court yet, Commander, please stop fooling people!"
"But we can get engaged first, and besides... there is no guarantee that she will fall in love with someone else?" Li Qing said hehely: "It's not like you don't know the virtues of your Uncle Zhu, he has been suffering from you for a long time!"
"...I believe her."
Li Qing curled his lips, said nothing, stood up and sent Shi Heng away.
~
"Don't worry, sir. I will report it to the emperor as soon as possible after returning to Beijing." Shi Heng said, "However, I cannot guarantee whether the emperor will approve it or not."
"Just bring your word to him, he will approve it." Li Qing nodded and said: "Slow down on the road, don't just rush back and get tired, take a good rest after you go back..."
"Hey, I know." Shi Heng cupped his hands and said, "Sir, take care."
"Well, take care of yourself too." Li Qing smiled and said, "Let's go and enjoy life in the future."
"Then I'm leaving."
"Go." Li Qing nodded.
After sending Shi Heng away, Li Qing, who had been leisurely for a long time, became busy again.
Li Hong finally no longer had to be a private soldier, but he was even worse. Li Qing arranged for him to go directly to open up wasteland with the big soldiers.
This made the child so tired that he almost ran away...
…
~
Capital.
Today Zhu Jianshen stopped the court meeting and did not work in the imperial study room because today is a special day.
——He is going to be a father.
In the outer hall of Yongning Palace, Zhu Jianshen was pacing back and forth, feeling extremely anxious. It had been more than two hours...
Listening to Sister Zhen'er's painful screams, he was filled with torment. He was worried about Sister Zhen'er and also worried about his own child.
Growing up, he rarely felt like this, not even when he first ascended the throne and found out that it depends on people's faces.
"Why isn't it better yet..." Zhu Jianshen spun around in circles, wishing he could rush in, but he held back after all.
The palm eunuch Huaien wanted to comfort him, but he was afraid that something bad might happen to Chi Yu, so he could only show an anxious look.
A quarter of an hour, two quarters of an hour...it was almost dark.
Suddenly, a baby cried.
Zhu Jianshen paused, and immediately his anxious look was replaced by ecstasy. His face was red and his words were incoherent with excitement.
"I'm going to be a father, I'm going to be a father..."
Wynn was grabbed by his collar and shaken for a while, almost out of breath, but he could only smile and say happily: "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the emperor..."
"Ah~hahaha..."
Zhu Jianshen laughed loudly, as happy as a child.
After a while, he calmed down and walked quickly inside...
"Slave to see the emperor..." A group of slaves saluted.
The midwife did not salute. She was wrapping the baby in clothes. After a while, she turned around with the baby in her arms and said respectfully: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Your Majesty has given birth to a dragon son."
Zhu Jianshen was even more delighted, and hurriedly reached out to hug his son, but he took it back halfway, walked quickly to the bed and sat down, saying warmly:
"Zhen'er, thank you for your hard work."
"Concubine...it's not hard." Zhen'er smiled weakly. She looked around hard, trying to see her son.
Zhu Jianshen stood up, took his son from the midwife's arms, put it in front of Zhen'er, and said softly: "Zhen'er, look, this is our child."
"Well..." Zhen'er looked at her son and smiled, her smile was happy and filled with the glory of motherhood...
