In a corner of the inner courtyard of Jiangdu Governor's Mansion, the curled lotus leaves in the pond have turned yellow and dry. The wind rustles past, bringing a slight chill in the early autumn morning.
Beside the lotus pond, Adian was urging Wu Jue to practice boxing as usual.
Not far away, Tianjing, who was also wearing a Taoist robe and holding a whisk, was sitting cross-legged on a smooth boulder in meditation.
Next to the boulder, Hei Li was squatting and taking a nap.
Beside the wooden bridge, Chang Kuo, who was leaning on a crutch, was spinning around.
Wu Jue stretched his neck to look at Chang Kuo, and whispered to Ah Dian: "Look at your Uncle Chang, who is he waiting for over there?"
Adian took a look and shook his head.
Wu Jue, who had stopped moving since he opened his mouth, tried to continue speaking, but Ah Dian's attention was not distracted at all. He interrupted Wu Jue in an angry tone, "You want to be lazy again! If you do this again, I will complain to the adults!"
Hei Li, who was dozing off, was awakened by A Dian's voice. He immediately joined in the protest and barked "Woo woof" at Wu Jue, which scared Wu Jue.
Seeing this, Tianjing stroked his beard and laughed.
At this time, a tall, slender figure of reddish orange appeared on the path beside the wooden bridge with a maid.
When Chang Kuo saw this, he quickly turned around and faced forward, pretending to enjoy the scenery.
Until the figure behind him spoke with a hint of surprise: "My Lord?"
Chang Kuo then turned around, with a look of pretended surprise in his eyes, and then smiled kindly: "It's Li Tong."
Li Tong smiled and bowed.
Li Tong had his own small courtyard in the governor's mansion. Whenever he went out, he would most likely pass through this shortcut in the garden.
Chang Kuo's mountain-like figure was blocking the middle of the bridge. At this moment, he was standing with a crutch. He did not immediately make way. Instead, he smiled and chatted: "You left so early, are you going to the workshop?"
"Yes, I was just about to go to the workshop to hand over the work at hand." Li Tong said: "I was planning to say goodbye to you after returning from the workshop."
Chang Kuo looked at her in surprise: "...are you leaving Jiangdu?"
Li Tong nodded: "I want to go back to Xuanzhou tomorrow."
Hearing her worry, Chang Kuo couldn't help but ask seriously, "What happened?"
"Nothing major has happened yet." Li Tong lowered his voice slightly and said truthfully, "It's just that my mother told me in the letter that the Saint kept my mother in the capital to wait for the prince's wedding on the grounds that the prince's wedding date is about to be set, so my mother can't return to Xuanzhou in the short term..."
This was exactly what Chang Kuo was most concerned about recently. He immediately asked, "What is your mother's specific situation in Beijing now? Is she in any danger? What else did she say in the letter?"
Li Tong blinked slightly.
Chang Kuo straightened his face, clenched his cane, and straightened his body: "...I'll ask Sui Ning on her behalf! She's been busy lately, I'm afraid she doesn't know about this yet."
Li Tong understood this tacitly, and only said: "Mother is doing fine at the moment, and is not too restricted in the capital, but the Crown Prince comes to pay a visit every two or three days..."
Chang Kuo frowned and asked in a low voice: "Is this the instruction of the saint?"
Li Tong nodded slightly: "That should be the case."
Chang Kuo didn't look relaxed.
The sage wants Li Rong to express his intention to "support the prince"... and he wants to detain him in the capital to "consider" him slowly.
"Mother said in the letter that she is not in danger in the capital for the time being." Li Tong said, "So please rest assured, Lord Marquis."
Chang Kuo was about to nod, but suddenly stopped. He was relieved... What was he relieved about? What position and status did he have to worry? That woman didn't even write him a letter! Oh, if he said that to her face, she would definitely look at him sideways and ask him why he didn't write to her! Just thinking about it in his mind, Chang Kuo couldn't help but get angry, but thinking about her current situation, his arrogance was quickly extinguished. He frowned and said, "Although her life is not in danger for the time being, you still have to be careful... In this situation, it's not just the 'Prince' who wants to win her over."
When the kings enter the capital, the situation will only become more complicated and severe.
In this world, no one can be immune to it.
Even if she had not entered the capital before, she could not avoid the invitation to the prince's wedding...
Chang Kuo felt uneasy when he thought that Li Rong was already at the center of the vortex.
Listening to Chang Kuo's words, Li Tong thought about it for a moment, and then tried to speak: "Mother is confused and may not be able to think through everything at this time... If the Marquis can write a letter to persuade and remind mother, I think it will be much better."
Chang Kuo suddenly looked uncomfortable: "What letter did I write to her? Just remind her more..."
"Mother is stubborn and won't easily listen to us youngsters." Li Tong said seriously, "But I think mother is always willing to listen to the Marquis' words."
What does this mean? Did that woman express her fanatical trust and admiration for him in private? Otherwise, why would Li Tong say such a thing for no reason?
Chang Kuo thought a lot in an instant, and his figure unconsciously looked taller.
Facing Li Tong's gaze, he nodded slightly with a solemn and reserved expression, agreeing to write the letter.
Then, he naturally asked about Li Tong's return to Xuanzhou: "So, it was your mother who asked you to go back to Xuanzhou?"
Li Tong shook his head: "On the contrary, my mother intends for me to continue staying in Jiangdu."
She said, "I decided to go back yesterday after discussing it with Sister Chang."
At first, she insisted on staying in Jiangdu to avoid her mother's questioning. Later, she was reluctant to leave Jiangdu for the lively days. She also knew that her younger sister needed her at that time.
Nowadays, all the major workshops in Jiangdu have already established a mature order and are well organized. They no longer need a Li Tong.
As for the idea of returning to Xuanzhou, it was planted when her mother left Jiangdu last time. At that time, there was a civil unrest near Xuanzhou, and she mentioned that she wanted to go back with her mother, but her mother refused.
Her mother seemed to dislike her going back with her and causing trouble, but she knew in her heart that her mother felt that under the current circumstances, it would be safer for her to stay in Jiangdu.
This time was the same, her mother still had no intention of letting her return to Xuanzhou.
But for her, if everything is fine at home, she can have fun outside without any worries. However, her mother is in an uncertain situation and there is no one at home...
She grew up in Xuanzhou and was supported by the people of Xuanzhou, but she should not be limited to this support and glory - after staying in Jiangdu for such a long time, what Li Tong saw and felt the most was the word "responsibility".
Because there were people willing to take the initiative to shoulder the burden of protecting the people, we have today's Jiangdu and Huainan Road.
Sister Chang is three years younger than her. She is already twenty-one this year. Even if her abilities are not as good as others, her age is the reason why she would not hide beside Sister Chang to survive at such a critical moment.
Even Sui'an was guarding the northern border, so how could she insist on being a useless sister?
Even if others don't dislike her, she will still dislike herself.
So she wanted to go home, shoulder her responsibilities, do what she could, reassure the people of Xuanzhou, and help her mother as much as possible... If her mother really encountered an unmanageable predicament in the future, she didn't want to just cry and worry but be unable to do anything.
Chang Kuo looked a bit emotional and a bit praiseful: "He is a good child with his own ideas... He looks like your mother when she was young."
As expected, she was raised by Li Rong, and she really takes after her.
Li Tong smiled and said, "My Lord, please take good care of yourself."
Chang Kuo nodded, and just when he was about to give Li Tong some instructions, he heard her say, "You and Sui'an are the ones mother cares about the most. Only when you and Sui'an are safe can mother feel at ease."
After being slightly stunned, Chang Kuo just sighed and nodded.
He had realized long ago that Li Tong also knew the inside story, but he had never said it so openly like this.
In such a situation, it seems that everyone is worried about whether there will be a chance to see each other again after separation. Some words that they did not intend to say out loud, after repeated consideration, are still unwilling to be buried in the heart.
Under such circumstances, Chang Kuo no longer felt uncomfortable. He just said in a gentle voice, "No matter what changes or difficulties you encounter in the future, remember to send a message to Jiangdu as soon as possible. We are all family, so there is no need to be so formal."
Hearing the word "family", Li Tong's eyes became slightly moist and he smiled and nodded heavily.
Watching Li Tong's figure disappear on the other side of the bridge, Chang Kuo held his crutches tightly in both hands, his mind filled with mixed emotions.
At this moment, he suddenly missed that brat of his.
But when he thought about the last letter from that brat, which was full of questions about his sister's life, line after line... It was the first time he had seen someone write such a long-winded letter! Chang Kuo was so annoyed by the long-windedness that he simply didn't reply.
Now that my love for my son has been aroused, I want to write back and ask about the boy's recent situation.
Chang Kuo sighed in his heart and looked up at the boundless sky. At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind - if there could be peace in the world, there would not be so many heart-wrenching separations in this world.
Even though he and Li Rong had some difficulties in their status, it was still better than millions of ordinary people... If it was like this for them, one could imagine the situation of the common people.
But in the current situation, let alone peace...if no one can help the overall situation, he can't even imagine what kind of endless chaos will come.
Therefore, he always has the greatest respect and gratitude for those who want to stop the war in the world.
This is the fundamental reason why he has firmly followed His Highness for so many years.
Chang Kuo looked at the sky, and his eyes turned red without him noticing. It was not until he heard Wu Jue shouting "Old Chang" again and again not far away that he turned around and cursed: "...You keep shouting, you are calling for my soul!"
Wu Jue said angrily: "...I'm kindly asking if you want to eat mutton noodle soup!"
Chang Kuo's expression suddenly became amiable upon hearing this, and he hurriedly walked towards Wu Jue with a laugh: "Eat, of course you shouldn't eat! Drinking mutton soup in autumn is the most authentic way to eat it!"
"You want to eat, but I don't want to cook yet!"
Wu Jue left, shaking his sleeves, and Chang Kuo followed behind him on a crutch.
Tianjing also followed with a smile.
By the evening, Wu Jue had finally cooked two large pots of mutton soup. Chang Suining had just returned home after finishing her official duties and saw the courtyard was bustling with activity. Old Chang waved to her to come and drink the soup.
Early the next morning, Chang Suining personally escorted Li Tong out of the governor's mansion and asked Chang Ren to lead people to escort him all the way.
Before leaving, Li Tong hugged Chang Suining.
After Chang Suining gave a few instructions, he watched Li Tong pick up her dress and get into the carriage, with some hope in his eyes - when a person takes on responsibilities, it will also be the beginning of her gaining the ability to control her future.
She hopes that Li Tong will be able to spread his wings and take off, and even if he encounters setbacks, he will become more courageous and match power as soon as possible.
After the carriage left Jiangdu City, Li Tong lowered the curtains and did not look back.
At this time, Yaojin, who was accompanying her, took out a box and handed it to her.
Li Tong took it subconsciously, opened it, and was stunned: "This is..."
Yao Jin: "Your Highness told me to give them to you if you insist on going back to Xuanzhou."
"Here is His Highness's seal, the keys to the various government vaults, and the Xuanzhou military token—"
Yao Jin said solemnly: "His Highness said that during this period of time when she is not in Xuanzhou, you will be the master of Xuanzhou from now on."
Li Tong was stunned for a while, and his eyes slowly turned red.
Her mother didn't want her to go back to Xuanzhou and take the risk, but when she made the decision, she left everything to her.
She wanted to retire, but her mother wished her a mediocre and peaceful life.
She wanted to get in, so her mother gave her everything.
Her mother was so smart and insightful... In her mother's eyes, only she who took the initiative to take on all of this and had the ability and courage to make independent decisions was worthy of being the one who was suitable to replace her mother to protect Xuanzhou.
But she is not even her mother's biological daughter...
Li Tong held the heavy box in his hand, tears streaming down his face, but his heart became more determined and courageous.
When Li Tong raised her hand to wipe away her tears, her carriage passed by an oncoming horse.
This fast horse was delivering a letter to Jiangdu. The letter was from Xiao Min, and it brought good news.
After Xiao Min reorganized his troops, he successfully recaptured Tanzhou. The Bian army was defeated again, but Bian Chunliang escaped in advance and could not be killed in one fell swoop.
When Bian Chunliang retreated to the Hengzhou area 400 miles away, Xiao Min continued to lead his troops to pursue the victory.
Chang Suining felt a little relieved. No matter what, as long as one side could be settled, it would be settled. Although the imperial court had made mistakes, it could not change the fact that the Bian army had committed many evil deeds and Bian Chunliang deserved to be put to death.
This good news was also sent back to the capital. Along with the joy of autumn harvest, many officials in the court had the illusion that the situation was getting better.
But many times, a momentary ray of hope is often a preview of a greater crisis.
At the end of August, the autumn harvest was over, and there were less than two months left until the prince's wedding.
After waiting and observing, some princes and military governors have already made preparations to enter the capital.
But what arrived in the capital even faster was an extremely urgent report - Prince Fan Yang had rebelled.
The Fanyang Jiedushi was poisoned by his military commander Duan Shiang, who had already secretly defected to Fanyang King Li Fu.
Li Fu was born in a branch of the royal family. He did not have much military power and was always cautious. He was rarely mentioned. However, he suddenly took advantage of the chaos to control 40,000 Fanyang troops and forcibly recruited tens of thousands of troops in Youzhou. He had become a big threat.
Before the imperial court could respond, Duan Shiang led his troops south and quickly occupied Yingzhou and Jizhou.
When the news reached Jiangdu, the food box in Qiao Yumian's hand suddenly fell, and she turned her head sharply to the north in the noisy street.
Jizhou is adjacent to Xingzhou, and Qinghe is under the jurisdiction of Xingzhou... and Cui Lang is still in Qinghe at this moment! An autumn wind blew, and a few dead leaves fell on the green tiles. Dark clouds came in the northern sky with the wind. (End of this chapter)
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