Chapter 45: Shanjuan is a good name.
The first thing the old man did when he woke up was to complain about being thirsty.
His mind was still not clear, and his speech was incoherent. Sometimes he cried out in pain, and then said someone was trying to harm him. Finally, he sobbed and said that his life was miserable.
Huang Ruiying was used to comforting patients, so her expression remained calm, and her tone was even. She simply said, "Senior Sun, please open your eyes and look at the person beside the bed."
The old man actually listened to her words, pursed his lips and turned his head away, looking extremely aggrieved, with tears in his eyes, as if everyone in the world owed him money. However, after seeing Zhou Shan, he gradually calmed down.
At this time, the maids came in with medicine. Huang Ruiying took the medicine and put it aside.
"Senior Sun, did you see this? This is your grandson." Huang Ruiying helped him up and kept stroking Sun Yi's back to help him calm down.
Zhou Xian, however, couldn't utter the word "Grandpa." The words surged in his throat for a few seconds, but he finally whispered softly, "...Doctor Sun."
But no one blames.
Even if they are connected by blood, how can two people who have never lived together call each other family from the bottom of their hearts?
Sun Yi did not answer. He squeezed out an inexplicable "hmm" from his throat, as if crying, and then stared at Zhou Shan blankly without even blinking.
Zhou Xian felt inexplicably nervous.
Maybe it's some kind of "homesickness".
He subconsciously took a step back, but Zhang Jinwei held his hand. His hand was damp and cold from nervousness, but being wrapped in the warm, dry palm finally helped him recover.
"...Your name is..." Sun Yi's lips opened and closed for a long time, and he uttered a nonsense sentence.
Zhou Xian said, "It's just one word: Xian."
"Which Transformation?"
"Xianjuan's Xian."
"...What a nice name," Sun Yi said quietly, his gaze passing Zhou Xian, his gaze fixed on an unknown location. "This phrase originally describes the flying banners of an army. The person who named you must have great expectations of you."
Zhou Xian didn't want to spoil the old man's fun, so she just said "hmm".
He still couldn't figure out whether this name was chosen by Emperor Yongchang himself or by his mother from the characters given by the Ministry of Rites.
But many people say it is a good name.
He also knew it was a good name.
"Xianjuan" refers to the appearance of flying lightly, with flags flying, wild geese flying south, and flames leaping...light and free.
Zhou Xian sighed softly.
Now that Sun Yi has woken up and the grandfather and grandson have recognized each other, Zhang Jinwei can't delay any longer. He wants to set off as soon as possible and return to the front line while it is still light and the city gates are not closed.
Zhou Xian saw him off to the city gate.
Fine snow fell from the sky.
Zhang Jinwei held the horse with one hand and Zhou Xian with the other. As they walked through the snow, their dark hair was soon covered with fine snow, even onto their eyebrows.
It seems like we have grown old together.
"Okay, let's just send it here." Zhang Jinwei stopped.
Zhou Xian was preoccupied with her whole journey and didn't notice that the man in front of her had stopped, so she bumped headfirst into Zhang Jinwei's arms.
"What are you doing?!" Zhou Xian was stunned. Before he could recover, he was picked up by someone. It was freezing cold and snowy, and there was a group of people following behind him. He felt that he and Zhang Jinwei were two fools.
"Nothing." Zhang Jinwei rested his forehead against Zhou Xian's and whispered, "I just regret that I can't be with you in two places."
"You're so clingy." Zhou Shan muttered.
"Really?" Zhang Jinwei smiled, "I can be even more clingy, do you believe it?"
After saying that, he kissed her without waiting for Zhou Xian's reaction.
Their breaths intertwined, their lips and tongues intertwined, the snow fluttered, and the white mist was thick.
At first glance, Zhang Jin looks like a gentleman, but in fact, he is full of bad things. For example, when it comes to kissing, he just dabbled in it a little bit at the beginning, but now he has many different ways of kissing, and he has learned it all by himself. He can be said to be extremely talented.
Normally, he would simply kiss the corners of Zhou Shan's mouth and forehead, then release them immediately, displaying a warm, soothing warmth, a very graceful demeanor. But when no one was around, he'd become even more aggressive, biting her tongue and nibbling her lips. With just one kiss, Zhou Shan's lipstick was practically devoured, leaving her lips red—a kiss that left them red. Of course, there were even more extreme ways, but Zhou Shan didn't want to recall them.
The kiss at that moment was long and affectionate.
Zhou Xian's eyelashes trembled slightly, each one distinct. Fine snow fell on them and turned into water droplets, so his eyes were wet, as if he had been crying, and he looked very easy to bully.
"Are you coming back for the New Year this year?" Zhou Xian was dizzy from the man's kiss, his neck and face were all red. He lay in Zhang Jinwei's arms and asked in a soft voice.
The servants and maids were standing not far away, and the only shelter was the horse... Zhang Jinwei is becoming more and more outrageous now!
Zhang Jinwei nuzzled his cheek and said, "If the war situation stabilizes, Prince Rui and I will definitely rush back to have New Year's Eve dinner with Xianxian."
"Is it a deal?"
Zhang Jinwei smiled: "It's a deal!"
After hesitating for a while, the man finally got on his horse and waved to Zhou Shan.
Zhou Xian said, "The wind is strong and the snow is heavy. Zhang Huaiyu, be careful on the road."
"Hanhan, you should go back soon." Zhang Jinwei took a few steps, then turned back and said with a smile, "If I keep my promise, what reward will you give me?"
Zhou Xian rewarded him with a puffy back.
But he broke his promise.
He broke his promise for three consecutive years.
At the end of the year, the Tatars launched a fierce attack, and the soldiers stubbornly defended the border wall, refusing to give up an inch of land. Finally, spring arrived and the grasslands began to recover. The Tatars seized the opportunity and marched on the border, causing great suffering to the people of Daning along the border.
In the summer, when the grasslands were lush and green, the two armies stopped fighting for a while to rest. King Rui Zhou Heng sent envoys to contact the Tatar army, sending a signal of peace talks.
This move caused a huge uproar in the Daning court.
Hundreds of officials jointly submitted a memorial, emphasizing the policy of "no marriage alliance, no compensation, no cession of territory, and no annual tribute" that had been used since the reign of Emperor Taizu. Some old ministers even wanted to hit their heads against the throne and died. They almost pointed at Emperor Yongchang and scolded him as a coward who ruined the ancestral heritage!
There were fierce protests in the court, and Emperor Yongchang simply said that he was disrespectful to God and unkind to the people. He had no choice but to ask God's will, put down his burdens, and moved to Xiangshan to continue searching for immortals!
The emperor didn't want to intervene, but the war still had to be fought.
The two sides remained deadlocked for two years, and the people of the border areas, harassed by the war, were forced to migrate to the Guanzhong region. The soldiers had to defend the border to the death, not letting the Tatars' iron hooves break through the border walls. The Ministry of War urgently mobilized elite troops from all over the country, the Cabinet drafted a plan, and finally the Imperial Household Department approved it. The eunuch Liu Renfu, who always looked down on others, gritted his teeth and approved it!
Liu Renfu approved it, which means Emperor Yongchang approved it.
No one dared to propose peace again.
Perhaps because Emperor Yongchang devoted himself to Taoism, God could not bear to see the fate of Daning fall in his hands, so the backbone of the Tatars, Nasutu, died suddenly in the military camp. The Tatars fell into civil strife. The Daning army took advantage of the victory and pursued the Tatars back to the grassland.
After years of war, the border areas were devastated, the people were displaced, and the soldiers were left with nothing. Only the emperor was still the most wise and benevolent king in the world.
During these three years, Zhou Xian often climbed up Pagoda Hill and looked into the distance to the north.
Yan'an Prefecture was still some distance from the border areas, and many people from the border areas had settled here after their retreat. Zhou Xian was busy settling the people. After some recuperation, his health improved significantly, unlike before when he would fall ill at the slightest touch.
But we are together less and apart more often, which makes people feel sad.
Zhang Jinwei and Zhou Heng were both busy on the front lines and had not had time to eat New Year's Eve dinner for three consecutive years.
Huang Ruiying treated Zhou Shan, then carried her medicine box and headed north, disappearing only occasionally to the site of a wounded soldier.
The only ones accompanying Zhou Shan were Yu Xi and the others, as well as Sun Yi.
Fortunately, Zhang Jinwei's letters home never stopped, though his handwriting was becoming increasingly messy. Zhou Xian didn't bother to bother with them anymore. He put the letters one by one into an exquisite wooden box, then spread out the letter paper and told Zhang Jinwei about the situation in Yan'an Prefecture.
If two people meet, they will be intimate for less than two days before they have to part again.
Zhou Xian was also particularly concerned about Zhou Heng.
Compared to Zhang Jinwei, who frequently wrote letters to report his safety, Zhou Heng was much more taciturn. His Royal Highness Prince Rui was stationed in the northwest, with a jerk father who was a hands-off manager above him and millions of border civilians and soldiers under him. Even when he was seriously injured, he dared not disclose it and secretly returned to Yan'an Prefecture to recuperate.
Zhou Xian was furious with her brother.
He learned some medical skills from Sun Yi and took care of Zhou Heng personally.
Fortunately, the war is over.
Just temporarily.
But at least there will be peace for a dozen years.
Zhang Jinwei's term of exile ended, and he returned to Beijing with the princess in September of that year. Due to his outstanding military achievements, he was granted the title of Deputy Director of the Military Affairs Department, Assisting the Military Affairs Department and Supervising Censor.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I returned to Beijing, something big happened in the palace.
——Emperor Yongchang is seriously ill.
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