Chapter 738: Picking Chestnuts (Part 1)
Gong Dongning is the commander-in-chief. There shouldn't be any danger around him!
Eleventh Lady breathed a long sigh of relief and paid more attention to the battle ahead.
After the Dragon Boat Festival, the Ganzhou battle report said that Gong Dongning had killed more than 10,000 enemies, and used the horses he received to train new soldiers. Three thousand cavalrymen rushed to Datong at lightning speed, killing 2,000 enemies, and another 20,000 Tatars fled to Jiayuguan, saving Ouyang Ming from the siege. In the middle of the Wudan, another victory report came. Gong Dongning left the Sichuan Dusi troops to guard Ganzhou, and he personally led the Guizhou Dusi troops to Datong to encircle and kill more than 20,000 Dazi troops.
Xu Lingyi's brows lit up with joy: "Abandon Xuantong and go to Datong to cut off Da Zi's retreat, and then join forces with Ouyang Ming's troops to attack Xuantong. This will not only recover the lost territory, but also save Yanjing from danger." Then he shouted to Denghua loudly, "Hand over the sign, I want to enter the palace." His voice was cheerful and loud.
He hasn't spoken like this for a long time.
Eleventh Lady also smiled: "Does this war have a good chance of winning?"
Xu Lingyi nodded, sat down beside the bed and said to her softly, "So I have to go to the palace - I have to convince the emperor to let Gong Dongning command the three armies. Otherwise, if there are two commanders in one army, something bad will happen."
Under this circumstance, the emperor should agree to Xu Lingyi's request!
Eleventh Lady felt a lot more relieved immediately.
Xu Lingyi gently brushed the few strands of her hair behind her ears and said softly, "The weather is nice today. Do you want to sit in the back garden?"
She has been feeling unwell since that day.
He knew that she had a mental illness, so he didn't call a doctor. He let her sleep when she wanted to, and do needlework or read when she didn't want to. He did everything according to her wishes. Despite this, she became paler day by day.
Maybe she was too depressed before, and now she suddenly felt cheerful and a little tired. Eleventh Lady leaned on the big pillow: "I want to sleep for a while!" She felt lazy and listless.
Xu Lingyi looked at her almost transparent face, his eyes full of pity: "Then sleep for a while. There are things to do at home, such as Jiang and Yingniang." He tucked the corner of the quilt for her and couldn't help comforting her: "Gong Dongning also said in the letter that Jin Ge'er is very smart. He can learn things quickly and understand them in a short time. He likes him very much. Now he wants Jin Ge'er to help him organize documents!" Fearing that she didn't know how powerful it was, he explained, "What Jin Ge'er is doing now is like a bachelor in the inner cabinet - after organizing the official documents of various departments and guards in the army, he will Give Gong Dongning instructions, and then forward the official documents instructed by Gong Dongning to each department. It may seem trivial, but it can help him understand the major and minor events in the army and learn a lot, which will be of great help to him in the future. "He said, "Since Da Zi succeeded this time, the northwest will not be peaceful in the next few years. After the war, Gong Dongning will most likely be awarded the title of Minister of War and serve as the governor of the Right Army Governor's Office to stabilize the northwest. He also has this intention, and wants to bring Jiang Ge'er with him to hone him for a few years, and then slowly let him go and let him stand on his own. It won't be too late."
The implication is that this time, Brother Jin should not go to the battlefield or compete for military merit, as there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.
"Lord Gong is very thoughtful." Eleventh Lady felt relieved, and her eyes became brighter.
Xu Lingyi looked at her, his lips curled up slightly, and his voice became softer: "Then you should get some sleep! When you get up at noon, we can have lunch together, okay?"
Eleventh Lady hummed, turned over and went to sleep.
Xu Lingyi sat quietly for a while before he got up quietly and went to the study.
Shiyi Niang slept very soundly. When she woke up, she found that the sun had already set and it was already past lunch time.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" she asked Leng Xiang who was helping her get dressed.
"The Marquis was just hesitating whether to call you, but a eunuch came and told the Marquis to come in immediately," the maid brought in a copper basin. Leng Xiang wrapped a large handkerchief around Shiyi Niang's chest and helped her roll up her sleeves. "The Marquis asked the servants to stop disturbing you!"
Eleventh Lady washed her face and said, "Then didn't the Marquis have lunch, too?"
"Yes!" Leng Xiang said, and brought in the bird's nest porridge with a smile.
Or maybe it's because I've been lying down for too long and my body is still a little soft.
Eleventh Lady ate the bird's nest porridge and snuggled back into bed: "Ask the kitchen to prepare it. We'll serve it as soon as the Marquis comes back."
He smiled and left.
After a while, Xu Lingyi came back from the palace. Without changing his clothes, he sat down next to Shiyi Niang. "Are you still sleeping? Have you had lunch?"
"Yes!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "I heard that the Marquis entered the palace without having lunch. He must be very hungry, right? Go and change your clothes. I will ask the maids to serve you food."
Seeing that she was in good spirits, Xu Lingyi smiled and turned to go to the bathroom.
Eleventh Lady was secretly puzzled.
Why does Xu Lingyi's smile seem a little forced? Could it be that things weren't going well when he entered the palace?
Her heart tightened again.
After Xu Lingyi finished his meal, he asked softly, "What did the emperor say about Gong Dongning?"
Xu Lingyi's expression froze.
Eleventh Lady said, "Although I am worried, the Marquis always keeps his word. If you tell me, I will not hear rumors from other places and become more worried."
Is this his army?
Xu Lingyi smiled helplessly, but had to admit that she was right.
"The emperor left 10,000 troops from the Shandong Military Region's Dengzhou Guard, Ninghai Guard, Jinan Guard, and Pingshan Guard to Ouyang Ming, and the rest of the troops were under the command of Gong Dongning." Eleventh Lady was stunned, but soon understood: "Does the emperor want Ouyang Ming to redeem himself for his crimes?"
"Two-thirds of the 400,000-man army were killed." Xu Lingyi said in a deep voice, "Ouyang Ming can only be exempted from the death penalty if he makes military achievements."
The emperor is protecting her like this, but it's still just a "possibility"... Eleventh Lady felt depressed and suddenly thought of Fan Weigang: "What about Master Fan?"
Xu Lingyi's eyes dimmed, and after a while he said: "If he had lived and died with Xuan, we could have forgiven him, but now..." He smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Eleventh Lady was moved when she heard this: "My Lord, do you know the whereabouts of Fan Weigang?"
Xu Lingyi was silent for a moment, then whispered, "He committed suicide!"
Eleventh Lady took a deep breath, and after a long while she asked suspiciously, "Why haven't I heard the news?"
Xu Lingyi's voice became even lower: "He had his personal attendants come to see me and asked me to help him plead with the emperor, hoping that his family would not be blamed."
Eleventh Lady could not help but feel sad: "A new emperor appoints new ministers. If it was the previous emperor, maybe he would have the opportunity to lead 10,000 troops and have a chance to redeem himself!"
Xu Lingyi also had some feelings: "So sometimes I think, either stay aside and don't get involved in the temple disputes; or have the ability to make clouds and rain with a flip of the hand, and survive for several dynasties."
Seeing him worrying about the country and the people, Eleventh Lady couldn't help but smile: "How many dynasties has the Marquis experienced?"
"Three dynasties!" Xu Lingyi saw that she was in a good mood and made her happy. His tone was a little proud, "From Jianwu to Yonghe to Xining, I can be considered a veteran of three dynasties."
Eleventh Lady looked at his dark hair and couldn't help laughing.
Xu Lingyi took the opportunity to pull her over: "Get up, eat something and go with me to greet mother!"
"Yeah!" Eleventh Lady responded, then leaned on his shoulder and smiled.
His body was as soft as if he had no bones, and his whole person became gentle, completely different from his usual indifference.
Xu Lingyi smiled and kissed her cheek, then carried her horizontally to the big kang next to the window and helped her put on her shoes.
This is the first time.
Eleventh Lady was a little embarrassed: "I'll do it myself!"
Xu Lingyi just smiled at her and said, "Kick your feet!"
There were the footsteps of a maid outside: "My Lord, Madam, dinner is here!"
Eleventh Lady hurriedly put on her shoes and glanced at Xu Lingyi.
Xu Lingyi laughed aside.
The atmosphere in the room became warm.
The maids, daughters-in-law and old women all breathed a sigh of relief.
Leng Xiang even reported to Amber: "Madam and the Marquis have reconciled!"
Amber's face turned cold: "When did Madam and the Marquis get angry? Madam, you are just worried about the Sixth Young Master. Don't talk nonsense."
Leng Xiang lowered her head quickly: "I know I was wrong. I won't do it again!"
Amber hummed a satisfied "hmm", but her eyes looked towards the main room, and she saw Eleventh Lady wearing a lake green mausoleum shirt, a goose yellow burnt cloth bodice, and red gold earrings inlaid with rubies. She walked out side by side with Xu Lingyi, talking and laughing softly.
Eleventh Lady has not been in the mood to dress up for some days. It looks like the sky is clearing up after the rain!
Amber unconsciously smiled.
The lady was also very happy to see Shiyi Niang: "You look much better!"
Eleventh Lady smiled and refilled the lady's cup of tea.
"It's good that you're feeling better!" The old lady didn't drink tea, but picked up cherries from the crystal plate to eat. "You're not feeling well, and we didn't have a good Dragon Boat Festival either." The old lady said to the second lady, "Let's go to Liufangzhen to row a boat tomorrow? I haven't rowed a boat this year!" Like a child.
The lady is no longer like before. When she goes to row the boat, she needs a strong old woman to look after her.
The Second Lady looked at Eleventh Lady for advice: "How about we go rowing a boat tomorrow?"
"Okay! Okay!" Before Eleventh Lady could say anything, Fifth Lady smiled and said, "Everyone has been feeling anxious and depressed these days. Let's have some fun while the weather is good!"
Eleventh Lady felt that the weather was too hot, but since everyone wanted to go, she naturally agreed with a smile and asked Jiang to arrange the boating. On that day, she sat in the pavilion, fanning herself in the cool air, watching the Second Lady, the Fifth Lady, Ying Niang, Xian Ge'er, Cheng Ge'er, Ting Ge'er, and Zhuang Ge'er rowing the boat happily in the Biman Lake.
A gentle breeze blew, and she couldn't help but squint her eyes.
It is midsummer now. The Spring Festival in the northwest comes late, but it should be here soon.
As long as the grass is lush, it is a good season for grazing. If you miss this season, you will miss this year. Gong Dongning has received frequent good news. Those Dazi should be eager to return home! Then this war should be over soon!
Thinking of this, Eleventh Lady felt better.
Jiang, who was serving beside her, looked at it and smiled as she held up a blue and white porcelain high-footed fruit plate filled with water chestnuts and lotus seeds: "Mother, this was sent from Nanjing, please try it!"
Eleventh Lady smiled and picked up a water chestnut.
From Biyou Lake came the screams of Ting and Zhuang.
Brother Xian took his two nephews and rowed the boat into the lotus bushes. The two little guys were picking lotus flowers there!
Jiang smiled and asked Eleventh Lady, "I heard that Lord Gong has won many victories. Will Sixth Uncle be back soon?"
In front of the lady, no one dared to say that Gong Dongning was appointed as the governor of the Right Military Governor's Office and was leading the troops of the Guizhou Military Governor's Office to fight in Xuantong.
Eleventh Lady nodded, and the smile on her face became even brighter: "Yes, Brother Jian will be back soon!"