Volume 1: Painting Spring Chapter 23: Farewell to General Zeng
Chen Ruofu led Qingxi into the palace and had tea with the queen for a long time. Everyone in the palace was an expert at listening to music. The queen asked questions and Chen Ruofu answered questions. Although they did not mention the marriage, they still
A tacit understanding between both parties has indeed been achieved.
When the two left, the queen left Chen Ruofu alone, and Qingxi stood waiting outside the palace consciously.
There was a peach grove outside the Fengyang Palace where the queen lived. She quietly moved to the peach tree and raised her head to look at the scorching flowers. The pale pink of the peach grove glowed dazzlingly in the sunlight.
, a breeze blew by, and the petals fell like rain, which was really beautiful. She closed her collar and reached out to catch the rain of petals, and a voice came from behind and asked softly: "Are you feeling well?"
When Qingxi turned around, the breeze carried the hem of her skirt flying, and petals like rain flew across her jade-like face, and the peach blossoms on her face reflected the red color.
She saluted and said, "Thanks for your concern, Your Highness, the palace's medicine is very useful."
Xiao Yizheng had a smile on his face and clear eyes. He was dressed in a moon-white auspicious cloud robe and stood with his hands behind his back. He looked really handsome.
"Don't call me by name?" Xiao Yizheng asked in a low voice with a smile.
Qingxi smiled slightly: "This is in the palace."
"Come to see the Queen?"
"yes."
Xiao Yizheng also knew what the queen was summoning for. "I heard from my father the day before yesterday that you were sick. The palace's medicines are not necessarily very expensive, but some of them were brought back by me from all over the country. The effect is no worse than those precious famous products, so I had someone send them to the palace."
Yes. Looking at you today, you look pretty good."
"Yes, I am indeed fine."
Just as she was talking, another gust of wind came up. She took a breath of cool air and coughed twice. The peach tree branches on the side swayed in the wind, and another flying petal fell. Xiao Yizheng immediately raised his hand to block the flying petals for her.
Invasion.
Under the peach tree, two people stood in the rain of pink petals, one smiling and staring, the other raising his hand to guard. This scene made the surrounding maids couldn't help but take a second look.
The queen standing in the corridor and Chen Ruofu beside her said softly: "Mrs. Chen, I see that this pair of children are a perfect match. What do you think?"
Chen Ruofu looked at the pair of people not far away and nodded with a smile.
On the ninth day of March, a marriage decree was issued for Prince Heng and the daughter of Ling Mansion, and the wedding day was scheduled for the ninth day of April. The Ministry of Rites began to be busy preparing for the prince's wedding. Although it was a royal wedding, the six wedding rituals were even more important.
Indispensable, Chen Ruofu is very busy.
The palace sent a nanny to teach her, and Qingxi spent all day learning those etiquette rules, never having a moment to relax.
Since the marriage was granted by the royal family, the threshold of the Ling Mansion has been almost stepped down by the congratulators. Ling De is very annoyed, thinking about his daughter getting married, feeling happy and worried at the same time.
If anyone in the Ling Mansion lives a normal life, it is Ling Qingsong. Since he entered the top three in the scientific examination last year, at the age of eighteen, his reputation has spread throughout Dacheng. The emperor also appreciated him quite a lot and said that he would give him a few more years of experience
He has his own place to go. After returning to Shangdu, he continued to study, meet friends, and ride horses to enjoy the spring as before. If he had time, he would do these things to tease Qingxi, making her envious and jealous.
"I see that you went to Sujiang and your mood has improved a lot." Qingxi was pressed by him and couldn't help but mention this, but she was really happy that her brother had let go.
Qingsong was silent for a while and smiled faintly: "My grandfather's home is indeed a paradise." He smiled and raised his hand to tap Qingxi's forehead: "You don't have to make fun of me. The world is so long, how can a real man indulge in the past all day long?
In my emotions, it was a waste of the wisdom of the ancestors that I read." He calmed down and said seriously: "I also hope that she can be healthy and happy."
Qingxi said with relief: "Yes. Sister Tong married into the Prince's Mansion, and the whole family knows that you are unhappy. In fact, your parents are also very worried about your marriage. It's just that they don't want to force you to accept another education at this time.
Marriage, so let it take its course." She paused and continued: "I met Sister Tong when I was at Baoding Mountain, and she told me personally that the prince was very good to her."
Qingsong nodded: "In the future, if you marry into the royal family, you will have more opportunities to meet." He seemed to remember something, looked at Qingxi, and said warmly: "Heng'er, I always feel that you are not so willing to marry into the royal family.
On the way back from Sujiang, I heard about what happened at the Qing Poetry Festival one after another. No one knows your talent better than me. But letting such a reputation spread all over the world makes me worried."
"Are you afraid that it will be difficult for me to live up to my reputation?" Qingxi said with a smile.
"The trees are as beautiful as the forest, but the wind will destroy them." Qingsong said with rare solemnity, he gently rubbed her head again, and said in a different tone: "Remember, no matter where you go, the Ling family is yours.
Rely on, don't wrong yourself. If you are unhappy, let alone the palace, my brother will help you all over the world."
Qingxi had tears in her eyes but smiled cheerfully: "Then you have to remember this." She patted Qingsong's shoulder and said generously: "Don't worry, I will protect myself and you all."
Qingsong chuckled again and again: "I really don't want you to protect us." After laughing, he clicked his tongue, seemed to hesitate, and asked: "Did Zeng Yuanyi look for you a few days ago? You are sick.
I haven’t seen him either. He will leave for Beisuzhou the day after tomorrow.”
"What?" This was indeed the first time Qingxi heard such news.
"You actually don't know?"
"No one told me!"
"Yes, everyone in the house is very busy these days. I thought dad had mentioned it to you, and maybe dad also thought I had mentioned it to you."
"Why did Brother Zeng go to the Northern Army? Dad clearly said that General Zeng would not let him go to the border." Qingxi asked.
"I don't know either. I just know that the Zeng family themselves submitted the petition, and the Holy Spirit approved it." Qingsong frowned and continued: "But at this time, I doubt it will be involved in your marriage."
"My marriage?" Qingxi stood up, turned around twice, came close to Qingsong, and whispered: "He will leave the day after tomorrow. Brother, can you arrange for us to meet?"
"Isn't it appropriate?" Qingsong immediately refused: "After all, you have to be careful now."
"When did you become so old-fashioned?" Qingxi stamped her feet and said, "Am I not allowed to see any men in the future?"
"That's not what I meant. It's just Zeng Yuanyi..." Qingsong wanted to say that even he had guessed about half of that kid's thoughts, but it happened that Qingxi didn't pay much attention to this matter and never seemed to understand. So,
She said that she was surprised when she admired King Heng.
"You can go see him off! Can't you just take me with you? This is not a violation of etiquette! The palace didn't set these rules for me!" Qingxi seemed to be really anxious, and repeated her voice repeatedly.
Qingsong thought for a while and felt that both emotions and reasons made sense. Furthermore, due to the relationship between the two families, Zeng Qidao really wanted to leave Shangdu as a gift, so he agreed.
Early the next morning, Ling's carriage drove the two of them to the post house outside the city.
The two of them waited for a while by the post pavilion and then saw Zeng Qidao coming on horseback. He reined in the horse three feet outside the pavilion and turned over, but he stood still and seemed unwilling to step forward.
Qingxi looked at Qingsong in confusion, and Qingsong rolled his eyes, saying that he didn't know what he meant. Just as she was about to step out of the pavilion, Zeng Qidao came in stride. Qingxi felt that it hadn't been long since they hadn't seen each other, so why?
This man has lost a lot of weight.
"Brother Zeng." When she saw him stepping into the pavilion, she called with a smile as before.
Zeng Qidao was slightly stunned, and just looked at her with a heavy gaze, as if he was hesitant to speak.
Qingsong couldn't stand it anymore and coughed slightly. "Why are you going alone and not taking anyone with you?"
Zeng Qidao then bowed and said, "I don't need anyone to serve me. I can just go alone."
"Brother Zeng, I just learned that you are leaving, but why did Uncle Zeng suddenly ask you to go to Beisu?" Qingxi looked at him with bright eyes, puzzled. Qingsong said that it might have something to do with her marriage.
She felt that it was not the case. Her relationship with Zeng Qidao was only limited to her parents' expectations, and it was impossible for others to associate her with the Zeng family.
Zeng Qidao remained silent, looking lonely.
Qingsong sighed and couldn't bear to see him like this, so he said: "We are going to the north. The road is long and windy, frosty, snowy and rainy. You have to take care of yourself."
"Brother Zeng?" Qingxi felt a little strange when she saw him looking at her deeply, so she called him again.
"Are you...really willing to marry His Highness Prince Heng?" Zeng Qidao moved his lips and asked this question in a dumb voice.
Qingxi was stunned and nodded unnaturally.
Zeng Qidao was silent again, and the fine lines in the corners of his eyes were filled with a sad silence. After a while, he swallowed his throat and said with great difficulty: "You are about to get married, and I have nothing to give. I remember you before
I have said that I want to go to Beisuzhou to drink from the Qingning Ganquan. Now that I have become a princess, I am afraid that I will not be able to move freely. When I come back, I will bring you some and treat it as congratulations on your wedding."
Seeing that he didn't want to mention the reason for going to Beisu, Qingxi didn't ask further and said hello with a smile.
Zeng Qidao took out a piece of silk handkerchief from his arms, stared at it, rubbed it a few more times in his hand, and slowly handed it to her: "You asked me to return the silk handkerchief last time, but I never returned it.
I was wrong. Today the property returns to its original owner."
Qingxi felt an unreasonable pain in her heart. She always felt that he looked like she had done something wrong. Because of this emotion, her face was stained with a deeper sadness of farewell. She thought about how he always looked like this every time they met.
He took care of himself like an elder brother, tolerated and tolerated, his eyes became sour, he took the silk handkerchief, and swallowed: "You left in such a hurry, I didn't even have time to prepare anything for you, so I can only prepare some simple things for you with my brother.
You must take care of yourself and write to us when you have time."
Zeng Qidao smiled and said, "Being born in a family of military generals, it is our duty to protect our family and the country. Beishu is rich in supplies, so don't worry about it."
The three of them exchanged some pleasantries, and Zeng Qidao cupped his hands and said, "After a long journey, we have to say goodbye, so you should go back early."
Although everyone was reluctant to leave, they could only wave goodbye.
After Zeng Qidao got on his horse, he stared at the clear stream again for a long time, "Heng'er, see you later!" After saying this, he whipped his whip and walked away in the dust.
Qingxi took two steps forward and looked at the figures of one man and one horse walking away. She shed tears and lowered her head to wipe them with a silk handkerchief.
