To Rule in a Turbulent World

That night, everyone withdrew across the Yellow River, and the Imperial Forest Army returned to the south, and retreated to the south of the Yangtze River along the way.From Gyeonggi to Jiangnan, many people have recovered, but there are very few people who cultivate the land, and almost ten rooms are empty.

Zhao Chao made private visits along the way and learned about the people's livelihood in the Central Plains. After crossing the Yangtze River, he was not in a hurry to go back to Mao County, so he accepted You Miao's invitation and stopped in Jiangbo Villa for a while.

That night was the night of the Lantern Festival, when You Miao returned, the whole villa was shaken, no one asked them how they were doing in the north, they all said that it was good to be back, and Zhao Chao never revealed his identity, but only proposed to celebrate the Lantern Festival at Youjia.

Qiao Jue laid out the entire arrangement for the Shangyuan Festival. The villa was filled with red lanterns, and a banquet was held outside the Shen Garden to entertain the tenants in the villa, and people could eat freely.

You Miao wanted the four of them to have a gathering in the garden, but Zhao Chao said, "It's okay, just eat with your parents and brothers. Let your sister come over tonight. We won't talk about state affairs tonight, just talk about family friendship."

So Qiao Rong returned to Jiangbo Villa from Maocheng. The villa was decorated with lanterns and festoons, and it was very grand. It became the biggest Lantern Festival that You Miao had ever had in these years.

When Qiao Rong showed up, there was a commotion in the whole villa, calling her the queen, and Zhao Chao went up to follow her, changed into normal clothes, and brought Qiao Rong into the villa.You Hange, Li Zhifeng has an official position and greets Zhao Chao first.Then it was the turn of Qiao Jue, You Miao, Nie Dan and other non-official civilians to lead Shen Yuan to kneel down and kowtow three times to Zhao Chao.

"You can do whatever you want." Zhao Chao said, "There is no need to be too polite, Mr. You, Madam, please sit down."

When will You Dechuan receive this honor?It was true that there was smoke from the ancestral grave, so they were busy in the hall as companions, while Li Zhifeng went to prepare dinner for the Lantern Festival with Qiao Jue.

Qiao Rong glanced at You Miao, and said, "You finally came back without missing an arm or a broken leg. Your brother-in-law heard that you are so courageous, and you will run out halfway through your meal..."

You Miao sneered and said, "With Li Zhifeng and Brother Nie by my side, nothing will happen."

The banquet was lined up, and everyone sat at the same table. Zhao Chao usually didn't pay attention to the rules. This time, when he came to visit You Miao's family, he also regarded it as a visit to Qiao Rong's natal family. He raised his glass and laughed, "Come on, Qing Ziqian I returned smoothly with Li Zhifeng, my eldest brother also returned to court, and we are together again."

"It doesn't matter whether you return to court or not." Nie Dan said indifferently: "But everyone is reunited again, it is indeed worth a drink, the grassroots Nie Dan respects His Majesty."

When Nie Dan raised his glass, everyone felt a little embarrassed, but they also raised their glasses and drank.

Zhao Chao said to You Dechuan with a smile: "Our country's uncle likes to bury his head in his work and doesn't like to talk about it. He also does things according to his own preferences. One day he was tired and couldn't bear the pressure, so he let go and went home. I can't help His, Mr. You will help me persuade him when he has time."

"Hey!" You Dechuan said: "Why don't you persuade him? You have been persuading him all day long. Once he returns to the villa, he will never go out of the gate..."

Seeing You Dechuan rambling on, Qiao Rong smiled and said, "Miaozi also manages family affairs at home. Do you care about state affairs?"

Everyone laughed, Zhao Chao glanced at Li Zhifeng again, Li Zhifeng didn't say anything, just drank.

You Miao couldn't laugh or cry, seeing Zhao Chao and You Dechuan talking a few words, Zhao Chao said again: "Ziqian, this time you come back, we have to agree, the court will be very busy next year, I am short of manpower, you don't care No matter what, you have to come back to me."

You Miao looked up at Li Zhifeng, just in time to meet Li Zhifeng's eyes. After a moment of silence, she had an idea in her heart - in this year, Zhao Chao will definitely go to the Northern Expedition.The Northern Expedition is related to the success or failure of Li Zhifeng's recovery of Quan Rong, and he must return to the court.

He was not sure whether Zhao Chao could persuade Nie Dan to return, but according to this momentum, Nie Dan had no other place to go except to return to the imperial court.

You Miao smiled, and sighed: "The minister has been unable to help His Majesty share his worries these years. I really have a guilty conscience. Since your Majesty has passed on the message, how dare I not obey?"

Zhao Chao looked better now, and said, "Not bad, let's eat."

Only now and Xi Zhu dared to move their chopsticks. You Miao had something on his mind, and he ate too much when he came back at noon. He couldn't eat much for a while, but Zhao Chao liked the dishes in Jiangbo Villa very much, so he ate more.With the emperor around, everyone didn't dare to eat too much. Seeing this, Qiao Rong didn't want to blame so many people together, so she smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the minister's wife also ordered someone to put wine in the garden, why don't you just move it?" How about walking in the garden, eating some private dishes, drinking some wine, and watching the moon?"

Zhao Chao readily agreed, and the rest of them knew that they had something to say, so they stood up and sent the emperor off respectfully, You Miao nodded to Qiao Rong, Qiao Rong replied with a clear expression, and said, "Let's all go, brothers, we haven't been together for a long time, especially It's Brother Nie."

Nie Dan sat with Qiao Rong, also very embarrassed, he nodded and put down his chopsticks, and went to the garden with Li Zhifeng, You Miao, and Zhao Chao.

A table of Qiao Jue, Qiao Rong ordered someone to make special dishes, and there was someone playing the piano in the depths of the garden.

You Miao warmed the wine with her own hands, and poured it among several brothers. The long and bright moon, the clear night, and the faint fragrance of the unfinished plum blossoms are really refreshing.

When Zhao Chao heard the song, he was suddenly moved, and said, "Your Qin Ji's skill is pretty good, let's ask to see it? I just want to reward him."

You Miao burst out laughing, and Li Zhifeng couldn't help laughing too.

Li Zhifeng said: "There is no Qin Ji in the Shen Garden, they are all young servants learning martial arts, just entertaining themselves."

Zhao Chao also laughed, and said: "These days... I remember that my eldest brother played the piano very well. When I was young, I went to the house and occasionally heard my eldest brother playing the piano. Where is the eldest brother's piano?"

"It's been a while." Nie Dan took a sip of his wine and said, "It was all lost in the chaos."

Zhao Chao nodded and said, "One day, we will all go back."

Nie Dan didn't answer the words, and the scene was still very stiff. You Miao knew that this time, Zhao Chao came for reconciliation. After all, Nie Dan had been imprisoned for several years, and Nie Dan kept his breath. Neither did Zhao Chao. .On the surface, none of them are tactful, but in You Miao's heart, they are the one who knows best - in terms of friendship, Zhao Chao and Nie Dan have the deepest friendship.

Zhao Chao had been taught and supported by Nie Dan since he was a child. Since he was still the third prince, he was bullied by the prince, and when he was still in Beijing, Nie Dan treated Zhao Chao as his own brother.It was also because of this that Nie Dan was so furious when the prince incident was revealed.

You Miao thought for a while, pretended to be curious, and said with a smile, "What did you play?"

Zhao Chao said with a smile: "I have everything, Yuefu, new songs... When I was young, the wind and waves were slow, and the sound outside the Great Wall... Every morning, I went to the elder brother's mansion to read military books, and practice martial arts in the afternoon. I was not allowed to eat dinner before I finished the practice. When I was young, I loved to drink. My eldest brother only let me have a drink in the evening, but didn't let me drink more."

Nie Dan replied indifferently: "March and join the army, drinking alcohol is a mistake, so naturally you are not allowed to drink more."

Zhao Chao said again: "Brother."

Nie Dan looked at Zhao Chao, and Zhao Chao said again: "I know that I have let you down very much these years."

You Miao and Li Zhifeng stopped talking, and looked at Zhao Chao quietly. Zhao Chao poured a glass of wine, put it in front of Nie Dan, and said: "I will apologize to you. That year I led an expedition to Korea, and 20 people went to war. There are only 4000 people left, and it was you who made it clear for me in front of the emperor, cleaned up the mess for me, took over the remnants of the army, and went out to fight again on my behalf."

Nie Dan looked at Zhao Chao, Zhao Chao sighed again, and said, "You told me when you were a child that you fought for the apocalypse, and now I am about to send troops to the north, I implore you, abandon the old grievances, and stand side by side with me again." , regain half of the mountains and rivers in the north."

Nie Dan was silent, but he didn't raise his glass. Zhao Chao stared at Nie Dan in a daze.

"This glass of wine." Nie Dan said, "Drink it after I return from victory."

"Then I'll toast you." Li Zhifeng said, "I respect you, my third younger brother, Ziqian."

Li Zhifeng broke the deadlock, You Miao toasted hurriedly, Nie Dan finally picked up the wine glass, You Miao smiled and said, "May everything go smoothly in the future."