Urban Night Returner

"Madam, Aunt Bi has come to greet Madam."

Ding Huiduan was sitting in front of the dressing table, and Fangyun, the confidant maid who came as a dowry, was combing her long hair. Hearing this, she curled her lips lightly, and said in a low voice, "I didn't come to pay my respects until it was high in the sun. I don't know what kind of etiquette it is."

Ding Hui didn't seem to hear her words, looked at himself in the mirror, and said calmly: "Auntie, please wait in the outer room, I will go out right away."

Bi Yan waited anxiously in the main room.In the past few days, she always felt tired, and accidentally overslept.On the second day of Luo Jing's wedding, Biyan was asked to serve tea to Ding Hui, confirming her identity as a concubine, and giving her a clear status in this family.However, two months have passed, and Biyan's initial excitement has dissipated.A concubine, in fact, is only a little taller than a maidservant in front of the main wife, perhaps, not as powerful as a confidant maid who was married as a dowry.Even though Ding Hui was always amiable, Bi Yan instinctively felt that it was a bit harmful, especially Luo Jing obviously respected his new wife very much, so even though she was an old person around Luo Jing, she did not dare to neglect etiquette at all.But despite being so careful, he got up late today. Although Ding Hui didn't say anything, he didn't let her into the inner room, which was an expression of displeasure.

After a cup of tea, Ding Hui came out slowly, and when he saw Bi Yan standing there, he frowned slightly: "Why don't you show Aunt Bi a seat?"

Bi Yan was already standing a little bit sore, but she didn't dare to show it at this time, and said with an apologetic smile: "I should have come early to pay my respects to Madam, but I don't know what happened these few days, I was very tired, so I got up late without knowing it. Ma'am please forgive me."

Ding Hui smiled, and slowly said: "You have worked too hard. There is not even a housekeeper in such a big house, and you are busy all by yourself, so naturally you feel tired. I didn't bring many people here this time, only this Fang Yun, I have taken care of some things when I was at home, let her help you, if there is anything, just tell her to do it, you just need to rest well."

Bi Yan was stunned, and quickly said: "Madam is concerned, and Bi Yan is very grateful. But Sister Fangyun is serving Madam, how can we let her do these chores?"

Ding Hui smiled and nodded to the maids around him: "Look at what you said, there are still so many people here, why can't they serve me? I'm not such a difficult person to serve, am I?"

Bi Yan was secretly startled.Although Ding Hui's words were soft and polite, it seemed that he was coming to the housekeeper.Even though Biyan was just a girl by Luo Jing's side in the past, she managed all of Luo Jing's wealth.Although the money is not much, but that is a meaning.Now that Ding Hui has only been married for two months, he proposes to be a housekeeper. This omen really can't help but startle Bi Yan.However, the main room is the housewife, and the housekeeper is justified. Biyan panicked and blurted out: "Although madam cares about Biyan, Biyan still has a lot of trivial matters here. Sister Fangyun is an unmarried girl. I'm afraid it's not easy to touch my hands."

Ding Hui's eyes darkened, he took a sip from the teacup at hand, and then said lightly: "That's true. It's really inconvenient to do things if the name is not right." Just as Bi Yan felt relieved, she had already put down the teacup , said, "I don't have many people around to serve me. I think I'll let my master take Fang Yun into the room. This way, you will be much more relaxed."

Bi Yan was startled, and turned to look at Fang Yun.Fang Yun lowered his head and stood beside Ding Hui, but there was a sneer on the corner of his mouth.Ding Hui glanced at her, and said slowly: "Fang Yun, although it will take a few more days to collect the house, but you can't be lazy, go with Aunt Bi today, read all these things in the house, and study hard. If you don't manage well in the future, I will blame you."

Bi Yan simply didn't know how she got out of the west courtyard.Fang Yun sent her out with a smile on his lips, and politely told her to "please tell me if you have anything to do", but she felt cold all over her body, her feet seemed to be stepping on cotton, and she dangdang into the east courtyard.

It was even quieter in the east courtyard, Biquan was washing clothes by the well platform.There are still very few servants in Luo's residence. In the west courtyard, there are maids married by Ding Hui to wait on them. In the east courtyard, there are only two men, so you still have to do everything yourself.Fortunately, Biquan used to serve Luo Jing in the army, so these things have been done smoothly.Luo Jing never thought of it, and he didn't mention it either.

"Brother—" Bi Yan almost cried, and staggered along the corridor.

Biquan shook the water from his hands: "What's the matter?" Ever since Biyan became a concubine, she has moved into the west courtyard.Because there was Ding Hui in the west courtyard, Biquan would never go in unless Luo Jing was with him, and the number of times the siblings met was much less than before.

Bi Yan gathered herself together, and said the matter with tears in her eyes.Biquan was silent for a moment, and said: "What's the matter with your body? Are you really tired because you have too many things to do?" In fact, Luo Mansion is busy these days preparing to welcome the new wife, and the normal life is simple, not necessarily many matter.Bi Yan shook her head in doubt and said: "I don't know what's going on, I always feel tired, I feel like throwing up after eating, I just want to eat something sour."

Just as he was talking, Shen Mobai came out of the room holding the used bowls and chopsticks. Bi Yan only smelled a smell of oil, and felt evil in her chest. As soon as she turned her head, she fell on the porch pillar and retched. It flowed out, but nothing came out.Shen Mobai was at a loss for what to do.Biquan quickly came up to help his sister, and gave him a cold look: "Take the bowls and chopsticks away!" Luo Jing has been busy cleaning up the city guard camp for the past two months, and the newlyweds rarely come to the east courtyard. There is no need to be so polite to Shen Mobai.

Shen Mobai was taken aback for a moment, and hurried back into the room.Biquan supported his younger sister, and said briefly: "Go into the room and sit down, I will invite the doctor."

Biquan invited an old doctor from Huichun Hall.Both left and right hands have been examined, and the old doctor said with a smile on his face: "Congratulations, young lady, this is undoubtedly a happy pulse. The young lady is two months pregnant, and the vomiting and soreness are all signs of bad luck."

Biyan was overjoyed, she was stunned, and after a while she grabbed Biquan and said tremblingly: "Brother, I, I really have it?"

A smile appeared on Biquan's face, he nodded and said, "Didn't the doctor say that?"

Bi Yan caressed her lower abdomen with both hands, not knowing whether she wanted to cry or laugh.Biquan sealed the pulse and sent the doctor back in person.When you come, you go through the back door, but when you return, you go through the front door.Luo Jing was coming back from the camp, when he saw Lang Zhong coming out of the east courtyard with a medicine box, he couldn't help but startled, "Why, who is sick? Is it Mo Bai?"

Biquan smiled, and said slowly: "Master, I invited the doctor to give Yan'er a pulse."

Luo Jing frowned: "Is Yan'er sick?"

Biquan smiled slightly, glanced at Ding Hui who was coming out to meet her husband out of the corner of his eye, and said calmly and clearly: "Congratulations, Yan'er is happy."

Luo Jing was stunned for a moment, and suddenly overjoyed: "You are happy? Really? When will you have it?"

Biquan still smiled slightly: "I only found out today, it is said that it has been two months. After all, it was before my grandpa was overjoyed."

Luo Jing was stunned for a moment with joy.Marrying a wife and having children, carrying on the family line, there are three kinds of unfilial piety, and having no offspring is the greatest. The words handed down by these elders alone are enough to prove how important and mysterious the continuation of life is.

When Luo Jing came back from the city defense battalion, it was already dark.He is vigorously rectifying the city defense battalion these days.The city defense battalion had a reputation for defending the capital, but many of the soldiers in it were the sons of local officials and gentry, who learned martial arts from their family instructors, and had never seen a real formation.Because of the intertwined relationship among them, the previous city defense generals have nothing to do.In recent years, it has been in the hands of King Zheng, and it is even used as a means to win over power, which makes this group of young soldiers more and more arrogant.If it hadn't been for King Zheng's downfall, all officials close to King Zheng would be in danger. Luo Jing still doesn't know if this rectification can be carried out.Even so, it is extremely troublesome to teach this group of young masters how to fight.So even though he was thinking about Biyan who was pregnant, he still went out early in the morning and didn't come back until dark.

The east courtyard was a little too quiet.Although there were few people, every time Luo Jing came back, Ding Hui or Bi Yan would greet him at the door, but today I didn't see anyone.Dinner was already set in the main room, but only a pair of bowls and chopsticks were placed, Luo Jing frowned, and said to the serving girl, "Where's Madam?"

The girl who served him was Ding Hui's dowry girl, Fang Yu, who lowered her head when she heard the words, and said, "Madam has a stomachache, so she drinks medicine in the house. It is said that the smell of the medicine is too strong. I am afraid that I will smell it, so I just drink it." I won't come out to have dinner with Grandpa."

Luo Jing put down his chopsticks: "Why did I get angry? I'll go and have a look."

Fang Yu lowered her head and said, "Madam said, let Master go to Aunt Bi's room tonight."

Luo Jing was slightly displeased: "Why, I can't decide whose room I go to? What about Biyan? Why don't you come to eat?"

Fang Yu pursed her lips and said after a while: "I dare not speak."

Luo Jing was even more displeased: "When I ask you, one thing to say, one thing to say, another thing to say two things, if you can't speak, find someone who can speak!"

Fang Yu's eyes turned red: "This is Madam's order, saying that Aunt Bi is an old man of the master, and now that she is happy again, you must let her go, and you are not allowed to tell the master anything."

No matter how hungry Luo Jing was, his appetite was exhausted. He slapped the table and said, "Say!"

Fang Yu was taken aback, and quickly said: "Just say it, master, don't tell Madam that it was the servant who said it. Aunt Bi needs soup and water these few days, and everything in the kitchen is salty or bland, picking on the thorns." Just because she had a happy event these days, Madam was afraid that she would be tired, so she asked Fangyun to take care of the housekeeper, but she pointed at Sang and scolded Huai, saying that Madam wanted to suppress her. Master thought, Madam should be in charge of the house, but Madam herself After entering the door, I never said anything, but now that she is inconvenient, I asked Fangyun to help her, but in the end... kindness was treated like a donkey's liver and lungs! Madam was so angry that her stomach was offended, and she was afraid that the master would know the troubles, so we are not allowed to tell the master -"

"Okay!" Luo Jing pushed the rice bowl away, losing all appetite.Bi Yan has been with him for these years, and her temper is a bit wild. If she is pregnant now, she is proud of her pregnancy, but Ding Hui's behavior also disappointed him.After all these years of fighting on the battlefield, I haven't seen any kind of conspiracy. If Ding Hui really didn't want him to know about it, why didn't he even come out to eat, let alone let this Fang Yu serve him?This Fang Yu hesitated, but her words were all provocative, even if it wasn't Ding Hui's original intention, it was annoying.Originally, taking a concubine before marrying a wife made him feel in his heart that he owed Ding Hui. Since she married into the family, not to mention Biquan and Shen Mobai, he seldom went to Biyan House.When Ding Hui received Bi Yan and offered tea, he was very pleasant and pleased with her magnanimity. Unexpectedly, the surface was calm, but the undercurrent was turbulent underneath.During the day, he has seen too many intrigues in the court and the city defense camp, and now he has to watch wives and concubines fight when he returns to his home, how can he not be bothered!

Seeing Luo Jing's gloomy face, Fang Yu couldn't figure out who he was angry with, and said tentatively: "Master, why don't I invite Aunt Bi? But Aunt Bi also said that she was not feeling well, and she didn't need Fang Yun to invite her." Langzhong, I asked Guard Bi to invite Langzhong again in the afternoon. I have been tossing around for a long time, and now I don’t know what to do. The servant feels that although Guard Bi is Aunt Bi’s elder brother, but there is a wife in the west courtyard, it is not convenient for him to come—”

Luo Jing jumped up without waiting for her to finish speaking, but he didn't go to the main room or the side room, but went straight out of the west courtyard.Fang Yu saw him striding into the east courtyard, she was stunned for a while before she realized it, and rushed to report to Ding Hui.

The east courtyard was even more quiet, only the lights in Shen Mobai's room were still on, shining a warm pale yellow in the darkness.Luo Jing opened the door and entered, Shen Mobai was eating, when he heard the movement, he turned his head, with serious surprise on his face: "Why is the general here?"

Luo Jing suddenly felt guilty, and looked at the food on the table in a concealed manner, but suddenly frowned: "What is this?"

Shen Mobai looked at the plate: "Cabbage——"

Luo Jing's face was gloomy: "This is what you eat these days?" Cabbage tastes very delicious in winter, but it gets old and unpalatable at the end of spring. These days, Luo Jing has never seen cabbage on the dinner table, but Shen Mobai The cabbage on the plate is obviously not the first meal, and the color is no longer green after being stewed again and again.Regarding Shen Mobai's meals, Luo Jing personally ordered them.No matter what Shen Mobai said, he also has the fifth-grade salary bestowed by the emperor. He has little use and eats long-term vegetarians, so the two dishes of each meal must be fresh and in season. Rice, add another pickle, and do it carefully.Things like cabbage in the late spring cannot be served on the table at all, let alone the next meal.Luo Jing's own diet is not very particular, but there are other rules for Shen Mobai.Unexpectedly, if he didn't come here for a few months, this is what Shen Mobai ate.

Shen Mobai slowly picked up the old vegetable stalks on the plate with his chopsticks.If there was no answer, that was the answer, Luo Jing said sternly, "Why didn't you tell me?" He regretted it after saying one word.Shen Mobai never left the East Courtyard, and he hadn't entered the East Courtyard for nearly two months, Shen Mobai just wanted to tell him, so what could he say?Sure enough, Shen Mobai looked at the plate and smiled.Not saying a word, just this smile is more irritating than anything else.Luo Jing felt pain in his heart, went to hug him, and said in a low voice, "I have wronged you."

Shen Mobai sat with his head down and didn't move, and said for a while, "Actually, I've wanted to find the general for a long time—I don't have any point in staying here, the general should let me go back to Changzhou."

Luo Jing didn't like to hear him say these words the most, his expression changed immediately, he grabbed his shoulder and said coldly: "What did you say?"

Shen Mobai grinned when he caught him.The bruise on his shoulder where he was wounded by the mourning stick has faded, but the inside still hurts from time to time, especially when Luo Jing scratched it.Luo Jing saw the expression on his face, his hands loosened slightly, and he still said angrily: "What did I say before? Do you think I dare not break your leg?"

Shen Mobai lowered his head and said slowly after a long time: "But what am I doing here?"

Luo Jing's heart softened, he couldn't speak any more cruel words, he just hugged Shen Mobai, and said after a while: "You are not allowed to go anywhere!" Although the words were hard, the voice softened.Shen Mobai looked up at him, his clear eyes were full of loneliness.Luo Jing couldn't help hugging him even tighter, and said in a low voice: "I'm going to tidy up the camp these days, and when I'm free, I——I'll accompany you to look around the capital. The mountain scenery here is also good, similar to Zhongshan .”

Shen Mobai listened silently without answering.Luo Jing hugged him, pressed his face gently to his chest, traced his eyebrows with his fingers, and said in a low voice: "There are ghosts in Wang Shangshu's mansion, even if we invite two or three Taoist priests, we can't catch them. Look, those Taoist priests are all fakes, but if they can catch up with you, they won't fail to catch even a ghost."

Shen Mobai listened in a daze, and suddenly realized that he was trying his best to find something to say, and there was a slight soreness in his chest, and he responded softly: "Well, does the general know what the hell is going on?"

Luo Jing didn't know what the hell was going on, he just listened to the group of young soldiers in the camp talking nonsense after training, he couldn't find anything to say so he told Shen Mobai, he couldn't help being a little embarrassed when he heard the words, Said: "This - I don't know, maybe it's just paranoia."

Shen Mobai hummed again, the room was silent, suddenly he heard a ringing in Luo Jing's belly, very clear, Shen Mobai was startled for a moment, and looked up at him: "General - haven't you eaten yet?"

Only then did Luo Jing remember that he was still hungry.Shen Mobai looked at the food on the table, and frowned in embarrassment: "These—"

Luo Jing took the rest of his food and put it into his mouth, said vaguely: "Tomorrow I will go to the kitchen to have a look, if anyone dares to serve you this kind of food, I will whip him first. Call me General, and call me by my name—Luo Jing."

Shen Mobai responded softly, but after thinking about it, he still didn't call out.He propped his chin quietly, watching Luo Jing eat his leftover rice and cabbage with the chopsticks and bowls he used. disappear...