Sun Qingmei stood up quickly, her beautiful eyes unable to hide her joy: "Really?"
The steward of the Marquis's residence nodded and said, "When the Marquis returns to the capital, he will go to the palace to pay his respects to His Majesty first according to the rules. After meeting His Majesty, the Marquis and Military Advisor Zhao will return to the residence together."
Sun Qingmei was all smiles and her heart was beating fast.
She and Shangguan Xuan can be considered childhood sweethearts. On the wedding night, Shangguan Xuan was ordered to go to the border to quell the war. Before leaving, Shangguan Xuan reminded her: "Madam, I have a long journey ahead of me and I don't know when I can return. You have to take good care of my family for me. 】
After Shangguan Xuan left, Sun Qingmei always kept his instructions in mind and carried the heavy burden of the Marquis' Mansion on her thin shoulders.
It can be said that I did not let him down.
Sun Qingmei suppressed her excitement and told the steward: "Send someone to change all the sheets and quilts in the main house. Ask the kitchen staff to go to the market to buy some fresh clams and make the Marquis' favorite dish, fresh clams covered in wine. By the way, Military Advisor Zhao is coming to the Marquis' mansion too?"
The steward replied, "Yes. In the battle against the Yue bandits, this military advisor Zhao made great efforts. Your Majesty has also summoned him back to the capital, and he should be rewarded."
Sun Qingmei had also heard of the name of Military Advisor Zhao. It is said that this man came from a humble background and was quite skilled in weapon making.
Sun Qingmei instructed the steward: "Take two maids and clean up the Danfeng Courtyard in the east. When Zhao Junshi comes, you can arrange for him to stay temporarily. Also assign two smart maids to serve him. Don't lose the courtesy of hospitality."
The manager kept this in mind and turned around to get back to work.
After Chen Wei finished drinking the red dates and snow clam, she wanted to get up and say goodbye. But when Shen Wei heard the steward mention "Military Advisor Zhao", her alarm bells immediately rang.
Military Advisor Zhao is suspected to be a time traveler. Is he a friend or an enemy? Shen Wei wanted to find out.
Shen Wei found an excuse to "appreciate the flowers" and stayed in the Marquis' Mansion for an extra hour, patiently waiting for Military Advisor Zhao to show up.
...
...
In the solemn and dignified Chang'an Palace of the Daqing Imperial Palace, the emaciated emperor received Shangguan Xuan, Marquis of Zhennan, and military advisor Zhao Qing who had returned to the capital to report on their work.
The old Marquis of Zhennan is already very old and cannot get out of bed or even drink soup. Shangguan Xuan took over his father's mantle, inherited the title due to his military achievements, and became the new Marquis of Zhennan.
“Ahem…”
A muffled cough sounded.
The old eunuch who served the emperor hurriedly brought the ginseng soup and the emperor took two sips. The emperor had gray hair on his temples and looked very old. He turned his old gaze and looked at Zhao Qing who was kneeling on the ground.
After a long while, the emperor sighed and said, "You have made great contributions. It is not a crime for a woman to dress as a man. I will confer upon you the title of Princess of Pingyang County, and you will enjoy the tributes of the imperial court. Stand up, and do not kneel."
Zhao Qing kowtowed tremblingly: "Thank you, thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhao Qing couldn't hide the joy on his lips.
A woman disguising herself as a man to serve as a military advisor is also considered a crime of deceiving the emperor. She had just taken the initiative to confess that she was a girl. The emperor did not blame her, but instead conferred the title of county princess on her.
It can be considered a meteoric rise.
The emperor coughed twice and said to Shangguan Xuan, "It's getting late. You should go back home early and see your wife. I think she misses you too."
The whole of Yanjing knew that Shangguan Xuan went to war on his wedding night, leaving his wife alone in the empty room. Madam Sun was good at managing the household, virtuous and dignified, and kept the marquis's mansion in perfect order.
The emperor was also a reasonable man and did not intend to delay the couple's reunion.
When Zhao Qing heard this, a trace of grievance flashed across his eyes. Shangguan Xuan knelt on one knee, clasped his hands and reported in a loud voice: "Your Majesty! Military Advisor Zhao accompanied me in the battlefield and gave me advice. I have long been in love with her. I beg Your Majesty to make the decision. I will marry Zhao Qing as my principal wife! As for Sun, she can be my concubine. I promise her a life of wealth and honor."
As soon as these words were spoken, Chang'an Palace fell into deathly silence.
The emperor was stunned, and the eunuch chief who served him also had a complicated expression.
The emperor shouted: "Absurd!"
Sun Qingmei was born into a military family. Her father died on the battlefield and her brother also died of illness on the way to Yanjing. She was the only child of the Sun family. The emperor, grateful for the contributions of the Sun family, granted the marriage.
Now Shangguan Xuan wants to marry another woman as his wife?
Shangguan Xuan knelt on both knees and kowtowed three times: "Your Majesty, please have mercy!"
The emperor was so angry that he drank two mouthfuls of ginseng soup.
Zhao Qing was deeply moved by Shangguan Xuan's sincere look. Zhao Qing also knelt down and pulled out a blueprint from his sleeve. "Your Majesty, this is the blueprint of a weapon I drew, called the [Compound Bow]. The bow and arrow save effort and have strong lethality. Even a weak girl can draw a bow. I am willing to present this weapon to Your Majesty in exchange for this marriage."
The emperor's brows twitched slightly, and he asked the eunuch to bring the blueprint.
The emperor had fought in the battlefield when he was young and was very experienced. He glanced at the "compound bow" on the drawing and was quite surprised.
There is such a strange bow and arrow?
Shangguan Xuan raised the corner of his lips and looked at Zhao Qing beside him affectionately. This was the woman he loved deeply. She was extremely talented, smart and brave, far superior to those delicate girls in Yanjing.
After a moment of silence, the emperor put away the drawings.
The emperor said calmly, "Zhao Qing presented the blueprints, which is a great achievement. But Shangguan Xuan, Madam Sun has been running the mansion for you, and she has done a lot of hard work. If you really want to marry Zhao Qing, I can make the decision and make her your equal wife."
Shangguan Xuan was anxious: "Your Majesty! Ah Qing is my only wife, how can she be my concubine!"
The emperor was obviously exhausted. He waved his hands sleepily and said, "I am tired. Everyone, please leave. I will send the imperial edict to the Marquis' Mansion in a few days to make her my co-wife."
Shangguan Xuan gritted his teeth and dared not disobey, so he had to take Zhao Qing away from Chang'an Palace.
Nearing noon, the early winter sun was warm, dispelling the chill in the palace. The emperor coughed incessantly, his throat was sore and sweet, and he vomited a mouthful of turbid black blood.
"Your Majesty!" The old eunuch next to him was startled and shouted loudly, "Call the imperial physician!"
The emperor raised his hand, his eyes fell on the weapon blueprint on the desk, and ordered the eunuch: "Let the Prince of Yan enter the palace."
...
...
The carriage of the Marquis' Mansion was driving on the bustling streets of Yanjing. Zhao Qing sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain, and looked at the street scene outside the carriage curiously.
Hawkers hawking their wares, dazzling goods, bustling crowds, and the prosperous imperial capital. The women walking on the street were all dressed beautifully, with skin as white as cream and a faint fragrance on their bodies.
Liangzhou, a border city that is often invaded by wind and sand, never has such a lively scene. Zhao Qing was excited. She secretly clenched her sleeves. She wanted to stay in this wealthy Yanjing!
"Ah Qing, come and try it. This is Wei Yan Ji's Begonia Pastry." Shangguan Xuan opened an exquisite food box. This was the pastry he asked his followers to buy. It was very popular in Yanjing and many women liked it.
Begonia pastry looks like red begonias in full bloom. The shape is beautiful and the taste is crispy and sweet.
Zhao Qing took a bite and was amazed: "Delicious!"
Shangguan Xuan said lovingly, "As long as you like it, I will send someone to buy it for you every day. I heard that there is a rouge shop in Yanjing that sells a kind of precious makeup powder that can make your face glow when applied on the face. I will send someone to buy it for you tomorrow."
Zhao Qing's cheeks flushed slightly: "My Lord, you treat Ah Qing so well."
Shangguan Xuan held her hand and said gently, "You have suffered a lot with me in Liangzhou. I can't let you down. Don't worry, I won't let you be my second wife."
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