female concubine

The winter solstice ceremony was held as usual, and the people in the capital did not know that the founding general of the dynasty had died of illness. To prevent the news from leaking in and out of the capital and the imperial city, the emperor sent additional guards to patrol the capital, and the posts also arranged strict guards.

Naturally, the servants of the Chu Palace did not know about it, and the week that the Chu Palace held for the eldest son after the court meeting was still going on as usual.

During the whole few days, Xiao Youqing pretended to get along with others as if nothing had happened during the day, until he returned to his room at night before he dared to throw himself into the arms of King Chu and feel sad.

On the day of Zhou?, the Palace of the King of Chu was much more lively than on the day of the winter solstice. The King of Chu opened the door and entered with a bowl of ginseng soup. Seeing her lying on the couch, he put the ginseng soup on the table and approached slowly.

"Sister." The King of Chu sat on the couch and gently touched Xiao Youqing's shoulder, "The accident happened so suddenly, I know you are very sad, but if you suffer from it, I don't think Weng Weng will rest in peace under the Nine Springs of."

Xiao Youqing got up from the couch, threw himself into the arms of King Chu and sobbed: "In the winter of Seven Years, I complained about him, so I spoke coldly to him, but I never thought that the farewell would be a farewell forever, Weng The last person Weng wants to see must be me." Thinking of this, Xiao Youqing became more and more sad.

"My lord, my concubine, all the guests are here." The maid stood outside the door and reminded her in a low voice.

"Understood, you go down and prepare first."

"Yes."

The King of Chu lowered his head and gently helped her up, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with his hand, "If my sister doesn't want to go out, I will..."

Xiao Youqing shook her head, "The death of a leading general is a major military event. The imperial court has blocked the news, and few people know about it, so I can't." She sat up from the couch, wiped away her tears, and walked to the mirror.

Seeing her haggardly walking, the king of Chu immediately got up and followed her. Before she could sit down, he put his arms around her from behind, "My sister's appearance scares me."

Xiao Youqing raised her hand and lightly rested on the arm of King Chu's bad waist, looked sideways at King Chu, then turned around and straightened the wrinkled skirt of her neck, "Don't worry, my lord, my concubine will be fine."

The king of Chu embraced Xiao Youqing in his arms, "I know you are very tired, just lean on it for a while, don't think about anything." He gently comforted Xiao Youqing's back and hugged him tightly, "From now on, I will block the wind."

In the middle of the hall where the banquet was held, some dishes were placed on the cleaned floor, and the female envoys put all kinds of edible fruits, pens and inkstones, scriptures, rosary beads, official orders, weighing scales and other items for testing.

The maids and nuns who took care of the child carried Xiao Zongren out, and the banquet hall was bustling with people praising the beauty of the child. It was not until King Chu and Princess Chu came out that everyone quieted down.

Qi He said: "Congratulations to the first birthday of the eldest son of King Chu and Princess Chu."

"You just take care of Da Lang, and I will handle the guests." The King of Chu patted Xiao Youqing's hand, then stepped forward to pick up the wine brought by the envoy, went to everyone, and raised his glass to thank each one.

After a few glasses of wine, the King of Chu approached the fourth son-in-law with a cup full of wine again, "Why is my sister-in-law missing when my brother-in-law is here?"

The four sons-in-law raised their glasses and bowed slightly, "It's the lower officials who didn't let her come. The princess is about to give birth and it will be difficult for her to move around. The lower officials are worried and dare not let the princess go out. When the baby is born, the lower officials will definitely visit with the princess in person."

The king of Chu raised his head, "It's the king who didn't think carefully enough to give birth...Is it October so soon?"

The fourth son-in-law nodded, "September and a half."

King Chu blinked, "My younger brother, I haven't visited my sister for so long since I came back. It really shouldn't be. After a few days, I and my concubine will bring Zong Ren to the house to make an apology."

"My lord is now out of the court and is busy with affairs. If the princess knows that you miss her in your heart, she will be happy."

She only felt the feeling of the death of her relatives when King Yan died. Xiao Youqing was heartbroken over the death of Lord Longde and cried for several days. King Chu immediately bowed his head in shame, "For so many years, it has been me It’s wrong to be a younger brother, please ask your brother-in-law to take good care of your sister.”

"Yes, the officer will definitely."

After the king of Chu left the banquet, he summoned the little six sons, "Send someone to send a message to Imperial Physician Sun, and ask him to personally select a group of imperial doctors who are proficient in obstetrics to wait for the Princess Kangning Mansion."

"Yes."

"My lord, the little prince is going to have a test? The princess calls you over."

"it is good."

The King of Chu walked quickly through the corridor into the hall full of guests.

"The father of the child is here, let's give way." Compared with the strict etiquette at the court banquet, the family banquet at the Zhou Dynasty in the Chu Palace is much more easy-going, except that the emperor and Li Guifei sent someone to send him off during the banquet. The two rewards made everyone stand up and stand still and dare not say anything. In the rest of the time, everyone gathered together to drink and chat, with few scruples.

The King of Chu approached the crowd wondering, "What's the matter?"

Xiao Youqing got up and walked to her, "He's been lying on the ground for a long time, and he won't move no matter how much you persuade him." As soon as the words fell, Rou Baozi, who was lying on his head with his hands on the ground, suddenly saw a familiar person in the crowd. The figure then crawled forward, and encountered a plate on the way, he stopped and looked down, and immediately grabbed a string of bodhi rosary beads.

"Prayer beads?" When the guests were surprised, he stretched out his other chubby hand to grab a pen and laughed happily under the attention of everyone.

Xiao Yunze, who didn't know it yet, picked up his little nephew, "Sister, my little nephew has caught the Buddhist beads, will he become a monk in the future?"

"Bah bah bah, grabbing the Buddha beads shows that there is a connection with Buddha, and the Duke of the country will definitely be a benevolent and filial son in the future."

His fleshy hand poked Xiao Yunze's nostrils with a pen, Xiao Yunze poked his head, jokingly said: "Really? See, he's only one year old and he's already poking his own uncle with a pen." He stared again. Pretending to be intimidating, he rubbed the child's forehead forward, making the child laugh heartily, revealing two small deciduous teeth in the lower jaw.

The inadvertent teasing also made Xiao Youqing on the side temporarily forget his discomfort, covered his mouth and smiled, "A child who is only half a little old, what does he know, this try? It's just a chance to win a fortune."

"That's true."

After the test, the guests congratulated the King of Chu again, and left the palace after receiving the gift from the palace.

Xiao Yunze carried the child to his younger sister, dragged her to the side, looked at King Chu who was still thanking the guests at the banquet, and asked, "Sister, tell brother, did your brother-in-law bully you?"

Xiao Youqing looked over, raised his eyebrows and said: "What is brother thinking, how can officials bully..." Xiao Youqing suddenly stopped.

"Look, I knew it, the King of Chu..."

"Brother, she doesn't have the prince, it's just that Youqing is not in a good mood recently, it has nothing to do with the prince, but thanks to the prince who has been by his side these days."

"Tsk tsk, no wonder the second uncle and Weng Weng said that your person and heart are bound by someone. From now on, you will never be in Xiao's house again."

Xiao Youqing raised his brows, "What nonsense are you talking about, brother, you obviously... don't know anything."

Seeing her suddenly sad look, Xiao Yunze quickly said: "Yes, yes, brother doesn't know anything, if the king of Chu really bullies Sanniang in the future, Sanniang, don't forget that you still have the Xiao family, and don't forget "Xiao Yunze patted his younger sister on the shoulder lightly, "You still have an older brother who promised mother to protect you, so no matter what, older brother will stand behind you and support all the decisions you make."

Xiao Youqing raised her head, opened her eyes slightly, "San Niang knows, San Niang is much better now, thank you brother."

"You and I are direct brothers and sisters, it's too much to say thank you." After finishing speaking, Xiao Yunze's beard on his chin was grabbed by a fleshy hand, and he lowered his head and rubbed the beard on the child's face, " Huo, you little guy."

Xiao Yunze stared at the innocent child, "When he grows up, I'll teach him horseback riding and archery, but I can't follow my brother-in-law. A man has to grow stronger, so that he can properly protect the girl he likes in the future."

"Speaking of which, why doesn't my brother marry a wife?" Xiao Yunze has long passed the age of marrying a wife, but he has been hesitant to do so. Xiao Xianrong pointed out several marriages for him, and he himself disturbed them, "Brother, isn't it? Still thinking about that Liu Shi?"

"Hey, what?" Xiao Yunze carried Xiao Zongren back into Xiao Youqing's arms, "I don't have time to take care of my family in the army, and besides, I can't force this matter, so why worry?"

"Forget it, what's the use of talking so much now, the person who most looks forward to my brother getting married is obviously already..." Xiao Youqing murmured to himself while holding the child.

"What is San Niang talking about?"

Xiao Xianrong didn't tell his son about it, so Xiao Youqing turned around, shook his head lightly and said, "It's nothing."

"... "

----------

In the Han residence, the chessboard was slapped loudly by the happy King Zhao, "Duke Longde died?" King Zhao laughed loudly and said, "Your Majesty is not afraid of King Chu because of the hundred thousand elite soldiers in Duke Longde's hands, but It is Xiao Huaide who has responded to everyone in the army, and now that Xiao Huaide is dead, I don't think the King of Chu has anything to do with arrogance."

Han Bo drank his tea unhurriedly, "Is the third king a bit too happy?"

"Excessive?" Zhao Wang questioned: "There are so many conspiracies and plots, this king has the King of Chu going too far? Isn't he just relying on the fact that the Xiao family is behind him? Now that the pillars have fallen, what else does he have?"

Han Si put down his cup and stared coldly at King Zhao for a long time.

Staring so hard that King Zhao felt the chill behind him, he swallowed and asked in doubt, "Sir, is this?"

Han Si lowered his head, "The national crisis is at the forefront, but King Zhao is still thinking about internal fighting."

"National calamity?" Zhao Wang was puzzled, "I am a state, so are I afraid that some border separatist forces will fail?"

"Your Majesty's great cause has launched successive Northern Expeditions over the years, exhausting its national strength in order to recover the sixteen prefectures. Now the countries in the west have been recharging their energy and energy for 20 years, and they are no longer the separatist forces that they used to be."

"So what, the soldiers are coming to block, without Xiao Huaide, is there no one in my court who can block alone?"

Han Si raised his hand, "From the current point of view, it's really true."

"That's also His Majesty's fault. He threw away the pieces when he ran out of chess pieces. Besides, my uncle was once a veteran general who accompanied His Majesty himself. How can there be no generals?"

Han Bang lowered his head and smiled coldly, "Can the Commander-in-Chief wield the one hundred thousand Xiao family troops?"

"This..."

Han Bang looked up at King Zhao, "Duke Longde is gone, and he still has two sons who are brave and good at fighting. Under the current national conditions, His Majesty will know the importance."

King Zhao frowned, "Could it be that His Majesty wants to reinstate Xiao Xianrong as a general?"

Han Si shook his head, "Perhaps, but the king's heart is unpredictable. All this will not be known until the war."

"The king will know about it during the war, so is there still a need to discuss it with your husband here?"

Han Si got up, walked to Zhao Wang's side, leaned over to his ear, and murmured a few words softly.

King Zhao stared in surprise, "Is this feasible? Will Your Majesty..."

"It's not feasible to retreat to advance, you'll know if you try it."

In the first ten days of November of the tenth year of Jianping, the imperial court sent Liang Wenfu, a Hanlin scholar, as the supervisor of the army to the southwest.

In the winter of December, the news of the death of Duke Longde's illness spread to the capital, which shocked the government and the public. The people were weeping when they heard about it. The emperor ordered Liang Wenfu to protect Duke Longde's coffin and return to Beijing. , at the age of 76, posthumously titled Zhongwu, honoring the late emperor's edict and enjoying the Taizong Temple.

Previously, the envoy of the Xia Kingdom returned to the country to report that the founding general of the Wei Song Dynasty had not been present at the Winter Solstice Ceremony. This remark caused a shock of suspicion in the Xia Kingdom’s court. When the news came out in December, the suspicion was confirmed. After the suspicion was confirmed, the Xia King sent an envoy to the Song Dynasty condolences.