The Great General and His Little Scholars

Jiang Tong savored the warmth carefully, lowered his head and blushed and said, "I know my brother's heart for me, but doesn't my brother know my heart for my brother?"

Liao Mingsi's expression was touched, and his expression eased.

Jiang Tong continued: "The reason why I kept Cuiqiao is because this girl is simple-minded and ignorant of worldly affairs, so I... have less trouble."

A smile floated on Liao Mingsi's lips, he turned his face to look at Jiang Tong mockingly and said, "Trouble? What kind of trouble?"

Jiang Tong raised his eyes and met Liao Mingsi's eyes. The flames burning in those eyes made Jiang Tong's heart beat faster.

"Trouble...it's just trouble." Jiang Tong said and wanted to stand up: "If you don't like it, I will let her go back to Tanzhou..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was pulled by an arm, he couldn't stand still, and fell into Liao Mingsi's arms.

"Don't worry, it's just a maid. If you get used to it, keep it."

Liao Mingsi used all his strength to hold Jiang Tong in his arms: "Why don't we study carefully how much trouble you don't want to have." Liao Mingsi talked, his face was close On Jiang Tong's neck, a warm air was blowing against Jiang Tong's ears, and he couldn't help shrinking his shoulders so itchy.

Liao Mingsi's mouth came close to his ear, and then to his cheek, holding Jiang Tong's face with one hand.

Jiang Tong wanted to struggle, but he couldn't resist Liao Mingsi's strength, and hurriedly said in a low voice, "Be careful to be seen..."

"We have been told to take a nap long ago, and no one will disturb you." Liao Mingsi's lips were pressed down, and he said vaguely: "Xing'an is very reliable, don't worry..."

Jiang Tong was tightly bound, Liao Mingsi's body temperature came through the thin clothes, coupled with the unscrupulous demands from his lips, the heat in his heart had long been ignited.He couldn't help stretching out his arms to hug Liao Mingsi's neck tightly, catching up with him.

Outside the window is an old tree with beards and branches covered with golden leaves pointing straight at the sky.Several wisterias meander, entangled in the thick trunk, and climb up.

Cuiqiao and Xing'an sat outside the courtyard, looked at the thick branches rushing out of the courtyard wall, and sighed: "If this is spring, the garden is full of flowers, how spectacular it would be."

Xing'an nodded and said, "Yes, it's like fireworks spraying out, it's very spectacular."

In the palace, Song Yuanzhen tightly wore the white mink velvet satin cloak on her body, and hurriedly walked into the Fukang Palace of the Empress Dowager Xu Wen.

Xu Wen was joking with a few court ladies and the county master, seeing Song Yuanzhen's appearance, the court ladies immediately stood up and saluted.The Empress Dowager's niece—the county lord Xu Pinyan came up to her and said, "I've seen the Eldest Princess."

Seeing Xu Pinyan, Song Yuanzhen asked in surprise, "When did you return to Beijing?"

"I just came back a few days ago." Xu Pinyan replied: "Mother's health has improved a lot, and she misses father again, thinking that the family will celebrate the New Year in the capital, so she came back."

Xu Pinyan has a handsome face, slender willow eyebrows, slender phoenix eyes, a small nose and mouth, and a slender figure.Because his mother, Princess Sufeng County, is a woman from the south of the Yangtze River, Xu Pinyan has inherited her mother's inheritance, and her appearance is among the best among the nobles in the capital's royal palace.

There are many brothers in Xu Wen's family, but those who died in battle and died of illness, only this little brother - Xu Chang.The first emperor was grateful for the empress dowager's natal family's love for defending the country, and specially appointed Xuchang as the king of Sufeng County, and granted him a mansion and land in the capital, which was extremely honorable.

Therefore, Song Yuanzhen also played with Xu Pinyan since childhood, and the relationship is naturally unmatched by other relatives.

So Song Yuanzhen immediately said angrily: "Since you are here, if you don't come to see me, I will be depressed to death recently."

Xu Pinyan covered his mouth with a smile and said, "I just heard from my aunt, is it because of that all-powerful major general?"

Song Yuanzhen's face turned red, and then she said stiffly: "Who said it was because of him, but just stayed in this palace every day, how could it be like you, traveling all over the world with my concubine."

Xu Wen said from the side: "Pin Yan is filial piety. Accompanying the princess of the county to recover from illness is like you. Do you only want to play around?"

"I'm alone, I don't have a family background, and I don't play around, what else do I do?" Song Yuanzhen sat coquettishly next to Xu Wen, hugging Xu Wen's arm and said: "Could it be possible for the emperor to give me a court official? "

"Hehe, you are not afraid of people laughing." Xu Wen pretended to reach out and touch Song Yuanzhen's forehead and said, "For Liao Mingsi, I come to annoy this palace every day."

"Then you are talking, I won't come after you give me the marriage." Song Yuanzhen pouted.

Xu Wen sighed: "I have already told the emperor about this matter, but the emperor said that Liao Mingsi doesn't seem to care."

"What?" Song Yuanzhen frowned: "Is this Liao Mingsi's original intention, or is it the emperor's conjecture?"

"Yuan Zhen!" Xu Wen scolded, "Pay attention to the rules!"

"But..." Song Yuanzhen twisted her body, pouted her mouth and said, "I don't care, anyway, I won't marry anyone in this life except Mingsi. If the queen mother and the emperor brother have the heart to watch their daughter die alone, then let them go."

After saying that, he walked away angrily.

Xu Wen sighed and said to Xu Pinyan: "I really made you laugh, Yuan Zhen is the only daughter of this palace and the late emperor, so it is inevitable that she is a bit arrogant."

Xu Pinyan hurriedly comforted: "The eldest princess is a golden branch and jade leaf. There is no such thing as arrogance, but she is just too infatuated. Auntie, don't worry. I will take the eldest princess to relax tomorrow and comfort her by the way."

Xu Wen nodded and said, "That's fine. You say she's a princess, and all the good men in the capital will choose for her. It's not like there's only one Liao Mingsi, why is he so stubborn."

Xu Pinyan said with a smile: "It's true that no man in the capital can compare to Liao Mingsi. It's only natural for Yuan Zhen to be like this. Besides, they have gotten along with each other before. It stands to reason that Liao Mingsi shouldn't refuse."

"I asked the emperor and said that Liao Mingsi himself admitted that he has a sweetheart."

"But even if there is someone you like, you can let him marry the princess." Xu Pinyan said: "It is not common for a scholar-bureaucrat to have three wives and four concubines. At most, the eldest princess will feel wronged and be an ordinary wife."

Xu Wen shook her head and said, "Looking at what the emperor wants, then Liao Mingsi will definitely not agree. Forget it, you can persuade Yuan Zhen first, and then think of a way. If Yuan Zhen really wants to marry other than Liao Mingsi, I will Gong can only take care of her."

Xu Pinyan nodded and said, "My daughter understands."

Song Yuanzhen left Fukang Palace in a fit of anger, feeling depressed, so she went to the Imperial Garden for a walk.As soon as he entered the door, a person hurried over to salute and said, "I have seen the eldest princess."

Song Yuanzhen took a closer look and found that it was Liao Mingli.

Although in love with Liao Mingsi, Song Yuanzhen has always looked down on Liao Mingli.Liao Mingli also has a good skin, but Song Yuanzhen is very disgusted by his laziness, lack of self-improvement, and bad habits.

So seeing him, Song Yuanzhen walked over without raising his eyelids.

Liao Mingli hurriedly said from behind: "Sir Shangshu and the emperor are discussing matters in Bihaixuan over there. If the eldest princess wants to relax, you can go to the east, where the chrysanthemums are in full bloom."

Song Yuanzhen stopped, turned to look at Liao Mingli and said, "Why did you come? Is there no one in the Rites?"

"Returning to Princess Chang, the affairs of the Ministry of Rites are trivial. The Master Shang Shu was afraid of making mistakes, saying that I usually have a clear mind, so I brought my minister here. I have already reported my affairs, so I am waiting here."

Song Yuanzhen sneered: "Cut, are you clear-headed? Hehe, it seems that there is no one in the Ministry of Rites."

He didn't bother to pay attention to Liao Mingli as he spoke, and walked towards the Chrysanthemum Garden.After walking two steps, he suddenly remembered something, turned around and said, "My princess has something to ask you, so follow me."

Liao Mingli immediately cheered up, and followed like a lap dog.

In the wooden pavilion in the middle of the chrysanthemum garden, Song Yuanzhen walked up a few steps, and just about to sit down, Liao Mingli immediately ran forward and took off his cape: "Princess, the stool is cold in autumn, and I will put the cape on the princess."

As he spoke, he put down the cloak neatly, and laid it on the stool properly.

Song Yuanzhen glanced at the cloak: "This is a fine silk satin fox fur cloak. It seems that the General's Mansion is very impressive, and I don't even think I cherish it when I spread it on a stool."

Liao Mingli hurriedly said: "It is naturally a good thing in the general's mansion, and the ministers cherish it very much on weekdays. But compared with the princess's body, it is nothing. Today it can be sat by the princess for a while, it is not an ordinary cloak , the net worth is high, and from now on I can’t wear it, so I have to offer it up.”

Song Yuanzhen was used to being arrogant and indulgent since she was a child, so she naturally liked Liao Mingli's words very much.Can't help showing a smile on his face, with a relaxed expression, pointing to the lower stool and saying: "You can sit too."

"Where is the seat in front of the eldest princess?" Liao Mingli still stood upright, with his head lowered, with a modest expression: "Didn't the eldest princess have something to ask the minister? The minister will know everything and say everything."

Song Yuanzhen saw that Liao Mingli was not the same as in the past, he had more etiquette and decent behavior.He was already good-looking, but looking at it this way, he was less disgusted.

So he smiled and said: "Nothing else, just want to ask about Ming Si. That day Qiongming night banquet, he left suddenly, do you know why?"

Liao Mingli thought for a while and said, "This humble minister doesn't know. Eldest brother has been in his yard every day since his triumphant return. He never went out except to pay his respects to his parents."

"Oh?" Song Yuanzhen frowned slightly: "Ming Sita... is there a very caring maid serving in the yard, so that he doesn't even want to go out."

"That's not true." Liao Mingli said: "Brother has only been interested in military career since he was a child, and he hangs out in the school grounds or barracks every day. He said that it is not suitable for him to be served by maids, even the maids given by the house are not suitable for him." Retired. Madam complained to father about this matter, but she couldn't hold back elder brother, so she obeyed him."

Song Yuanzhen frowned even tighter, and asked again: "Have you ever heard that there is a woman that the Secretary likes, or that there are some young ladies and county lords who have close contacts?"

"Never heard of it."

"But on the night of Qiongming's night banquet, it seemed that he had brought someone back to the mansion, and it was a woman. Don't you know about this?"

Liao Mingli thought for a while and suddenly said: "That's my cousin, who is also a newly promoted Jinshi. He ate too much wine that night and lost his manners. The elder brother happened to be there, so he was brought back to the house."

"Cousin?" Song Yuanzhen wondered, "Which cousin? Or a newly promoted Jinshi?"

"It's Sima Jiangtong, a young Jinshi who is famous in the capital this time. The princess should have heard of it." Liao Mingli replied.

"Sima Jiangtong?!" Song Yuanzhen said in surprise, "Isn't he the youngest son of Fucheng Wang Sima Zhong? Why is he your cousin again?"