The new wind in the North Sea brought a chill, and the shirts and flags fluttered in the wind, making a dull sound. The night stars dimmed in the sky, as if they were bright and dim, and the sky was full of stars. The moon was embedded in the night clouds, and no bright color could be seen.
A sudden shout broke the silence, and then the noise arose. The steady woman's encouragement, the footsteps of the maids, and the splash of boiling water poured into the copper basin rushed to get into the ears. The battle-hardened general's back and hands were anxious, and he couldn't bear to shout at him.
I walked up and down the high wall and wanted to go into the delivery room several times, but was persuaded to go back.
"It's really not suitable for men to enter when a woman is giving birth. General, don't worry, this is not your first pregnancy, and the fetal image has been stable, so everything will be fine."
This is the second time Mrs. Wanqing has given birth. It has been five years since her eldest son was born. Shen Bingde feels sorry for his wife's delicate body and is reluctant to give her another child - "We already have Han'er, and the second wife also has a son, and we will definitely have them in the future."
If you are brave and good at fighting, you don’t have to ask for many children and good fortune.”
Wanqing's delivery date was a little delayed, and she often broke into cold sweats in the hot summer. Fortunately, the doctor said it was normal, and as long as she took good care of herself and didn't go out to suffer the heat, she would be fine. Because of this sentence, everyone in the general's house started fighting.
I was very energetic, and finally on an ordinary night, Shen Bingde was busy with official duties. He came back half an hour late. He just stepped through the door and heard the report from the servants. Madam had seen red, and Po Wen was already in the room.
Waiting in the middle.
This happened so suddenly that he was caught off guard. Fortunately, he had made all the preparations in advance. Only the general himself was confused, as he seemed to be a parent for the first time.
Such tension naturally stems from the grudge between husband and wife, and some anxiety comes from a conversation long ago.
There is an astrologer in the northwest who is good at divination and fortune telling. He doesn't know where he comes from or where he is going, so he lives in the general's tent.
It was the middle of winter last year. Shen Bingde went hunting as usual and found him in the dry waterway of the mountain stream. He was dying, covered with cuts and bruises, lying unconscious on his back among the gravel. There were broken baskets scattered around him, and some that fell out could not be named.
It seems that the medicinal herbs were collected from the mountains and then fell from a high place.
The general rescued him, took him back to the camp, and ordered people to treat him. I can’t remember how many days later, this man woke up. His first reaction was to touch his clothes, frantically looking for the compass hidden under his body. Little did he know, he was
When he was found, he was covered in blood and had been put into clean clothes long ago, so the compass could be restored to health.
"My compass, my compass!"
They were so hysterical that they didn't stop until the compass was back in their hands. They held it in their arms and murmured to themselves, saying that they were blessed by their ancestors and that they were so lucky that they didn't even care about their wounds. General Shen came over after hearing the news. The first thing that caught his eye was
He looks so funny.
Others asked him what his name was and where he lived.
He said that he was homeless and had wandered all the way from the capital to this place, collecting herbs to make a living.
"As for my name, please just call me Chang'an."
Chang'an stayed in General Shen's tent, saying that he was useless, but that he had saved his life and would be repaid heavily. He had only learned astrology in his life, and he was willing to work for his benefactor.
He is indeed an excellent sorcerer. He doesn't talk much and rarely interacts with people. He always wears a plain-colored gown that is neither new nor old, with his hair half tied up. He performs divination and asks about the stars at night. No matter who has something to ask of him,
Chang'an is willing to give the other party a piece of cake, and he will get nothing in return, just a simple meal in return.
"The matter of divination originates from heaven and earth. There is no way to get it for nothing. Just like going to a temple to pray, you have to offer a stick of incense, right or wrong?"
The warlock always likes to hold a compass and say this to the boy who comes to serve him.
Shen Bingde seldom interfered with the affairs of Chang'an. Although the two of them were called host and guest, they actually didn't have much negotiation. They were worse than the boys who came three times a day to deliver tea, food, porridge and snacks. Until the New Year's Eve of that year, the General's Mansion hosted a banquet and also invited an astrologer.
The teacher is a guest.
After three rounds of drinking, the general was tipsy and still in high spirits, so Mrs. Wanqing finally persuaded him to go back. Watching the general drink the hangover tea, the lady was about to go back to the front, but she saw the astrologer Chang An guarding the door.
, lowered his eyebrows and said respectfully, he is taking care of this place, but please feel free to greet the guests.
"Master Shen, it's not difficult to pretend to be drunk for a while to hide from the guests, but please don't ask Madam to worry about you."
Chang'an's eyes were half-smiling, and the general's face became a little embarrassed. He could only laugh twice and said that he shouldn't keep a sorcerer by his side. He didn't even have any secrets.
"There is no need to get the hexagram. The general pretended to be confused, but his eyes were very bright. He kept staring at the lady intentionally or unintentionally. He did not dare to stoop when walking, for fear that she would be tired."
On this night, when the incense burns out the milky white smoke, the astrologer said that it is best to drink and talk happily on this night. There is no fuss or compromise, only the freedom and spontaneity after the New Year's curfew is lifted, and the endless fireworks blooming in the sky.
They are fleeting, disappear on the ground, and have no afterlife. They are better than all the sentient beings in the world, running around in a short life, knowing when they will be dazzling for a moment.
The general was speechless. He seemed really drunk for a moment and could only laugh in vain. The astrologer talked about the mountains and rivers he had traveled and the people he had met, as if he had finally met a close friend after being depressed for a long time. He even talked about the six-line plum blossom and said with a smile.
Before the general goes on an expedition, he will definitely give a message. That night, the general also opened up his chat box, talking about the customs and customs of the desert, and the long genealogy of the Shen family that has been rooted here for generations.
Later, when the weather cleared up after winter, they would often raise their glasses to the moon. Even without the red sleeves and rouge brewing in the capital, it was enough to eliminate the boredom in the monotonous days and the repeated wars on the frontier that hung over everyone's heads.
of depression.
"The weather is auspicious and the flag is set for victory."
Astrologers observe the stars and the moon every night and come to the same conclusion.
Two months before Mrs. Wan Qing's due date, Chang'an suddenly began to close the door to greet guests and was silent all day long. Even Shen Bingde was not seen. The general was very surprised and ordered the young man to hide the astrologer's compass. Sure enough, this trick worked well.
Unfortunately, when the general returned home that evening, Chang An had been waiting at the door for a long time.
"General, can you worship the Suzaku God?"
The astrologer came up and asked.
Shen Bingde didn't know what his intention was, so he could only answer that Suzaku is the main god of Cangwu, and it protects the world forever. As a subject, he naturally believes in it.
"If one day, the general needs to die for the Lord God, will the general be willing?"
Chang'an changed his usual appearance of a weak scholar, his eyes were sharp and he hit the point directly. Shen Bingde was not used to it, so he simply ignored him.
"I'll just give you the compass. How can I ask such a question?"
After that, the astrologer still rarely saw people, especially Yuan Qing. The general was very busy and did not take this matter to heart until one day he realized that Chang'an had already bid farewell without leaving a single word.
What was the meaning of the conversation that day? Shen Bingde could not figure it out until the crisp cry of a baby broke through the night. Mrs. Yunqing gave birth to a baby girl, who was very lovable. He held his newborn daughter in his arms and was very happy.
, naturally also left all other things behind. This chapter has been completed!