Chapter 208

It wasn't just Zhao Meifeng who looked at each other in dismay,

The generals of the Western Army were also the same.

Because the Western Army had been on alert for these few days, Bai Gao had movements, but they were mostly defensive troop deployment actions.

There was no sign of a large army moving out or attacking in retaliation.

Bianjing,

Imperial Palace,

Zhao Meifeng handed the several slips of paper from the bamboo tube brought by the carrier pigeon back to his master.

Thinking of the words 'Empress Liang stole out of the palace to have an affair, was stabbed, and died' on the slips of paper, he also revealed a look of confusion and asked:

"Your Majesty, why is the intelligence from the Northern Liao carrier pigeon about Bai Gao?"

The Emperor said in a deep voice:

"It was told directly to the Great Zhou guesthouse in Northern Liao by the Northern Liao Ministry of Rites! What do you think of this matter?"

The elderly Zhao Zilong didn't speak, but looked at Zhao Meifeng, who had a thoughtful expression, signaling him to speak.

After a moment, Zhao Meifeng said: "Your Majesty, Northern Liao sold such a big favor, I just don't know what they want our Great Zhou to exchange for it."

Because after Great Zhou received the intelligence sent by Northern Liao, the entire Western Army began to probe, and soon tested out Bai Gao's military contraction posture.

Messages between Bianjing and the Western Army were constant.

Countless supplies such as horse feed, bows, crossbows, and armor were transported in the cold wind to the confrontation front line between Great Zhou and Bai Gao.

In this twelfth lunar month,

Many officials spent their time in busyness.

Inside Bai Gao territory,

An elite scout of the Shenyong Military Division quietly poked his head out from behind a giant rock covered in ice and snow on a mountain top.

Looking at the Great Zhou army occupying a Bai Gao fortress not far away, he spat hatefully:

"What are those masters in Xingqing Prefecture thinking? They even want us to give up such a vital place."

Behind the rock, the Bai Gao scout's partner said:

"This place is too close to Great Zhou, and their supply is convenient. Perhaps the generals want to lure the enemy deep and then cut off their food and grass."

As they spoke, the two hid behind the rock again:

"Wait for General General Mi Mu Tuoxia to return. When the time comes, we will follow his cavalry. These Zhou army troops transporting food, grass, wood, and stone are nothing but transport teams for our Bai Gao's provisions."

"Yes, pray for the General to return quickly!"

In the former Bai Gao fortress far away from them,

The Great Zhou Western Army general was ordering soldiers to take the dogs in the army to sniff around inside the fortress.

After a good while, a hidden secret passage was discovered.

The Great Zhou soldiers surrounded the deep cave entrance, all looking at one of the young commanders with admiration.

"General, how did you know there might be a secret passage in this fortress?"

This young general with a long scar from the corner of his eye to his cheek said:

"It's just a common trick of Bai Gao. In the future, if you participate in more sieges and defenses, you will naturally understand these things after surviving."

"In addition, the imperial decree from Bianjing has already arrived at the main camp. Before the festival, our only task is to reinforce, enlarge, and deepen this fortress to become a sharp horn on this side near the main city. They Bai Gao want to lure the enemy deep? Hmph."

"We ate the bait, but we just won't go forward!"

Hearing that they didn't need to go out to attack and fight before the festival, the Western Army officers and strong men of all levels wearing armor felt relieved.

Seeing their own commander's cunning appearance, they laughed loudly:

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"In addition, those at the rank of commander and above, come to my tent later, there are rewards from the army to be issued!"

At night,

Under the bright moon,

Every commander-level officer in the fortress put on a cotton vest with solid materials and excellent warmth.

Also in the moonlight,

Bianjing, thousands of miles away,

The date was already past the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month.

Ji Ying Lane,

Sheng family,

The biting north wind at night blew the tree branches in the Shou An Tang courtyard.

The candlelight shone into the corridor through the window paper. Several maids carrying trays lowered their heads and passed through the lifted curtain, entering the front hall.

In the front hall, where the temperature was much higher than outside, the Sheng family was gathered here happily.

Hualan was sitting beside Old Madam Sheng, holding a hand warmer wrapped in brocade in her hand.

Wang Ruofu and Sheng Hong sat in the lower seats, both husband and wife frowning in confusion, listening to their eldest daughter's words. Liu Mama behind them was also listening with rapt attention.

"Grandmother, Mother, after being hit by a bamboo strip, guess what Jing Ge'er said?"

"Jing Ge'er is such a good child, he must have said 'Mother, I was wrong'!"

Wang Ruofu said firmly.

Hualan shook her head and looked at the Old Madam again.

The Old Madam shook her head and said: "Jing Ge'er is a clever ghost, I can't guess what he would say."

"Father?"

Sheng Hong looked at Hualan, whose eyebrows were smiling and whose personality was even more lively than at home. He picked up the teacup with one hand and smiled, waving his other hand:

"I can't guess either, Hua'er, hurry up and tell us!"

"Jing Ge'er said, 'Mother, didn't you eat?'!"

"Cough, cough, cough..."

"Ouch!"

"Jing Ge'er, this naughty monkey! Quick, pat Hong'er on the back!"

"Father, are you okay? Daughter shouldn't have said it while you were drinking tea."

"It's okay, cough, it's okay! And then?"

Sheng Hong took the handkerchief, wiped his mouth, and continued to ask curiously.

"Then, Jing Ge'er said another sentence, 'No, Mother, didn't you eat enough?', and this sentence alone made Mother-in-law cry with anger."

Looking at Old Madam Sheng, who had restrained her smile, Hualan said:

"Before I came to our house, Mother-in-law hadn't spoken to Jing Ge'er for six days. However, I heard that Jing Ge'er is racking his brains trying to please Mother-in-law to make her stop being angry."

Old Madam Sheng smiled and shook her head:

"That's good. Hua'er, you and your father and mother go back, I'm tired too. Take those plates of food for Jing Ge'er when you go back."

After everyone thanked her and exited Shou An Tang,

The Old Madam looked at Mother Fang beside her and said: "Sigh, why is Jing Ge'er so bad at speaking!"

"The slave thinks, perhaps what Jing Ge thought and what he said were different, and it slipped out."

Arriving at the front hall of Wei Rui Xuan,

Sheng Hong no longer sat straight, much more relaxed than in Shou An Tang.

He lay into the chair, watching his eldest daughter and Wang Ruofu sitting on the Arhat bed talking about private matters.

"Hua'er, I heard rumors from the servants before that your mother-in-law made you stand for etiquette?"

Wang Ruofu asked with great concern.

Hualan was stunned, then nodded, looked at Sheng Hong somewhat embarrassedly, and then whispered a few words in her mother's ear.

Liu Mama behind Wang Ruofu also heard the content of the words, and she looked at Hualan with surprise on her face.

After listening, Wang Ruofu nodded and said: "This is like a thing, it can be considered painstaking."

"Father, Mother, I came home this time, besides visiting Grandmother, I also have another matter."

Looking at Father Sheng Hong, who was full of curiosity about Hualan's whispers, and Wang Ruofu, who was full of surprise, Hualan said:

"It's about Cousin Zhu. His eldest daughter's maternal family is also surnamed Ni, and there are children who study. Our Sheng family and Mother's maternal family are both generations of official families. Mother-in-law knows that the Sheng family's school quota is full, so she wants us to help find a better school so that the Ni family's children can also make progress!"

Hearing Hualan's words, Sheng Hong stroked his beard with self-satisfaction and nodded.

"You! I!"

Wang Ruofu patted Hualan, the surprise on her face came and went quickly, turning into a face full of disappointment.

Looking at Hualan's confusion, Liu Mama whispered: "Eldest Da Niangzi, the Da Niangzi thought you..."

Hualan looked at Liu Mama's expression and understood immediately.

"Mother, what were you thinking!"

"What could I be thinking! Really, you don't even care about your own affairs!"

"Then, can you put some thought into the matter Mother-in-law entrusted to me?"

"Alright, I know!"

Hualan looked at her mother, hugged her happily, and said again:

"Mother, there is one more thing. Because His Majesty rewarded those two musicians, the new music has been rehearsed almost enough these few days, so... Mother-in-law sent out calling cards, and I also brought a few back."

Wang Ruofu asked with surprise: "Rehearsed so quickly? Do you know who is going?"

"Of course it's fast. There are musicians sent by Junrongzhi, and the Ministry of Rites in charge of the Jiaofang also sent people. They are all powerful, so naturally, it's fast! The venue is set in the largest Shanshui Garden of Fengle Tower. Mother-in-law said that many calling cards were sent out."

"Mother, will you take the younger sisters to see it then?"

Wang Ruofu looked at Sheng Hong and nodded.

"By the way, how is your sister-in-law's marriage? Is there a suitable family?"

"Mother, the second day after Jing Ge'er's incident, Da Niangzi Pan of the fifth branch of the Marquis of Jinghai sent good things from Dengzhou!"

"I was asking you... Oh."

Sheng Hong on the side heard this and nodded.

In the side room of Wei Rui Xuan,

The maid Xique was tucking in the quilt for Rulan, when suddenly her hand was grabbed by Rulan,

"Da Niangzi?"

"Xique, do you think my sister looks prettier since she came back this time?"

"What the Da Niangzi says is true, the slave also thinks the Eldest Da Niangzi looks much better than before and loves to smile more."

"Hmm! This noble family is actually quite good!"

Shanshui Garden of Fengle Tower, the largest restaurant in Bianjing City

In Shanshui Garden, there is a three-story wooden building connected to the main building of Fengle Tower.

The core of the wooden building is a stage, originally a venue for performances of miscellaneous arts in Bianjing.

Junrongzhi and Jiaofangsi would also rent this place when rehearsing large-scale performances in Bianjing.

On this day, a few days before New Year's Eve,

Early in the morning,

The street on one side of Shanshui Garden was cleared.

Dozens of feet away from the entrance,

Felt fences began to be erected.

The geothermal fire path in the building had been burned since last night. In the morning, it was already warm inside.

At the third quarter of the Si hour (around 10:00 AM),

Carriages, either gorgeous or exquisite, arrived here and drove into the felt fences.

After getting off the carriages, the familiar manager maids led everyone into the building.

The first floor of the building was separated by screens into different small rooms, and the second and third floors also had tables and chairs placed along the railings.

No matter where, the view of the stage was good.

Wang Ruofu, leading the children of the family, was led by a maid from the Marquis of Ningyuan's house who came to help, and arrived at a partitioned room on the first floor of the building, next to the location of the Marquis of Yongyi's Xu family.

The two sons and three daughters of the Sheng family, who were visiting such an occasion for the first time, followed behind Wang Ruofu, looking around at the carved beams and painted rafters with surprise.

They kept discussing the various new trendy incense clothes and pearls and jewelry in Bianjing while walking.

After taking their seats,

"Mother."

"Hualan sister..."

"Sister!"

Seeing Hualan walking over from the partitioned room on the side, everyone greeted her.

Soon, Pingmei also arrived nearby behind Bai Shi, and a group of in-laws talked to each other.

Gu Tingye and Gu Tingyi were familiar with the Sheng family children in Yang Zhou, and they were talking happily at this time.

From time to time, maids carrying various melons and fruits placed things on the table.

Da Niangzi Wu, however, did not stay in one place, but kept walking around the building, greeting the ladies of various families in Bianjing.

From time to time, ladies would affectionately or flatteringly hold Da Niangzi Wu and talk to her.

The affectionate ones were naturally introduced to good marriages, and the flattering ones hoped that Da Niangzi Wu could help them look and exert effort.

And Liang Han, Liang Liu Lang, followed behind his mother, respectfully calling aunts and aunts, naturally welcoming a wave of praise.

It was so praised that Liang Han felt a little embarrassed, but while bowing, his eyes were full of pride.

Arriving at the Qiao family, listening to his mother's praise for Liang Han, Qiao Jiu scanned him as if he didn't know Liang Han, looking until Liang Han turned his head away embarrassedly.

Da Niangzi Wu looked into the distance, her eyes lit up and she said:

"Old sister, the Duke of England's wife is here, so I'll go over first."

After smiling and nodding to the Qiao family, Da Niangzi Wu came to the dignified Duke of England's wife and curtsied: "Sister."

The Duke of England's wife smiled and nodded, and then the two walked inside.

Chatting while walking: "Please take care of the affairs of my fourth and fifth sons."

Da Niangzi Wu said: "What are you saying!"

Zhang Wu Niang on the side, after asking her mother during the gap in their conversation, took her maid to find the noble ladies she was close to.

When looking for Tingyi and Anmei in the partitioned room of the Xu family and the Gu family,

Wuniang was surprised to see a person:

"Feiyan sister, why did you come out?"

"Wuniang, greetings."

Rong Feiyan felt the gazes from the second and third floors and bowed to Wuniang in a very orderly manner.

Zhang Wu Niang hurriedly returned the salute and held Rong Feiyan's small hand: "Feiyan sister, why do I feel you are whiter than before."

Anmei nodded in agreement on the side.

Rong Feiyan lowered her head slightly. She felt a little embarrassed by the gazes of Wuniang and Anmei.

Between raising her eyes, she saw the four daughters of the Sheng family. She looked at Minglan and said: "Don't talk about me, sisters. I think that little sister is even whiter than me."

Zhang Wu Niang looked over, revealing a look of confusion: "Which family's noble lady is this?"

Anmei said: "The biggest one is my second sister-in-law Hualan sister, and the other three are the Sheng family's young ladies. Their father is my cousin-uncle, working in the Ministry of Personnel."

"Hmm, really quite white!"

Listening to Zhang Wu Niang's words, Tingyi on the side said: "Wuniang, this little sister is very good at throwing pots!"

"Oh? How is she compared to you?"

Tingyi pursed her lips embarrassedly and shook her head, indicating she was not as good.

Zhang Wu Niang's eyes lit up immediately.

At this time, Liang Liu Lang came to the side of the girls and bowed to greet them: "Anmei sister, Tingyi sister, Zhang sister... Feiyan sister, greetings."

Not far away, the young masters of several Wang and Marquis Duke's mansions looked at Rong Feiyan, who was returning the salute with a smile, and their expressions were all stagnant.

Rong Feiyan rarely came out on weekdays. Even if she did, she had a sister who was favored, and she had always looked at people with her chin raised. When had she ever encountered such a Rong Feiyan?

Rong Feiyan continued to listen to the chat of the noble ladies while pretending to look casually at the screen partition where the Sheng family was.

Behind the translucent screen, a figure who was taller than she remembered was standing there.

One hand was rubbing the small tuft of hair on the head of the little Sheng family sister she had just seen.

Seeing this scene, Rong Feiyan smiled suddenly. Feeling the gaze from the side, she looked over, and it happened that 'his' second sister-in-law was looking at her with a smile.

She hurriedly returned a smile.

Hualan nodded slightly, turned around, and looked at Xu Zaijing with a face full of gossip.

Soon someone shouted loudly on the stage: "Noble guests! The music gathering is about to begin, please take your seats!"

The people who were chatting loosely soon dispersed.

After separating from the girls, accompanied by Seeing Xi Bu and Ningxiang, Rong Feiyan turned and walked toward the Rong family's location.

One step, two steps, three steps,

The smile on Rong Feiyan's face gradually disappeared. She raised her chin again, becoming that proud sister of the Great Zhou favored consort who never looked at people straight.

But Seeing Xi Bu behind her felt her young lady's somewhat excited mood.

Soon, musicians began to carry musical instruments onto the stage.

Looking at the cowhide big drums used in the army, the people sitting in their seats revealed surprised expressions one after another.

Not only big drums, but also military gongs and horns, which were not common in operas, were common instruments in Junrongzhi.

Soon, the wooden building fell into silence.

The music gathering opened, and the big drums began to beat.

Changbai sat in the Sheng family's partitioned room, not far from the stage. He knew for the first time that the chest would vibrate with the drum sound beside the big drum!

(End of chapter)