Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Ji Yanlang especially likes to see her after she drinks...
When Ji Yanlang returned home from the cavalry camp, he didn't see Fang Ying, so he was called by his father to talk. Then his second and fifth brothers returned from office and were also called. The four of them talked until the evening and had dinner together in the front yard.
Originally, the head of the family was rewarded in court today, so the family should have a small celebration. Fang Ying also asked the kitchen to prepare, but when she saw that the men in the front yard never entered the second gate, she asked Li and asked the kitchen to send a table of food to the front yard.
Li simply called all the women in the backyard to the water pavilion and said, "If they have something to do, just ignore them. We haven't gathered together for a drink for a while. Let's take advantage of today's happy event to relax and have a good time." She also told her daughters-in-law not to worry and to drink as much as they wanted.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was naturally happy - although there would be a grand banquet in the mansion when Ji Si Niang got engaged, they were all the hosts at that time and had to entertain the guests. They would not be able to drink and have fun leisurely, which was far less enjoyable than what they were experiencing now.
So when Ji Yanlang returned to the room, he was greeted by Fang Ying, whose cheeks were rosy and her eyes were slightly blurred.
"You guys still drinking?"
Ji Yanlang lowered his head and leaned in to smell it. Fang Ying dodged sideways and said angrily, "Why can't we drink? Mother told us to drink as much as we want."
"Yes, of course," Ji Yanlang particularly enjoyed watching her drunken appearance, deliberately smiling and teasing her, "but why didn't you let go? I see you're not drunk at all."
Fang Ying said, "There has to be someone in charge. It's so unreasonable for everyone to be drunk."
Ji Yanlang took her hand and sat down together, saying with a smile: "It's already this late, what else is there to take care of? Just leave it to the servants."
Fang Ying was already feeling lazy after drinking, and he found his words boring, so he didn't want to answer. Instead, he asked, "Why are you back so late? Is there something important?"
Ji Yanlang's smile faded unconsciously, but he said, "Nothing serious. Father has been away from the capital for a while, so he asked about the changes in the court, and then asked about how our three brothers are doing with their official duties and whether we have encountered any difficulties... Unknowingly, the conversation has come to this point."
Although Fang Ying wasn't as perceptive as usual after drinking, she could tell that he wasn't telling the truth. She felt a little uncomfortable, and it showed on her face. She replied calmly, "Oh," then stood up and said, "It's getting late, go to bed."
“…” It’s not that late, right?
Ji Yanlang chased into the inner room, but didn't know what to say for a moment - it's not that he intended to hide it from Fang Ying, but what they talked about today was really unpleasant. He finally came back and saw her half-drunk, and her mood was better. He didn't want to bring it up again, which would only make him upset and ruin her mood.
He said nothing, and Fang Ying was even less likely to speak. She loosened her clothes and went to bed. Ji Yanlang was about to follow her, but was stopped and asked, "Have you washed yet?"
“…”
"Go wash your face, hands, and feet thoroughly before coming back." Fang Ying said slowly, but without refutation. "I feel a little dizzy, so I can't serve you anymore. Lichun and others will serve you well."
Lichun responded first, and Ji Yanlang quickly said, "I can do it myself, you go to sleep."
"Yeah." Fang Ying agreed, turned over and covered herself with the quilt. She felt dizzy and a little sleepy, but she still couldn't fall asleep until Ji Yanlang blew out the lights and rustled into bed.
Seeing her lying face down, motionless, Ji Yanlang thought she was asleep, so he moved very quietly and lay down carefully.
The two of them lay quietly for a while. Just when Fang Ying thought Ji Yanlang had fallen asleep, he turned over and sighed at the back of her head.
“…”What’s wrong?
Fang Ying frowned and ignored him.
After a while, he turned over again. This time he didn't sigh, but he kept moving around as if there were needles pricking him on the bed. Later, he simply sat up, got out of bed and gulped down a drink of water.
It was almost the middle of the month, and the weather was getting hotter by the day. Even at night, it didn't get any cooler. Fang Ying felt thirsty as she listened to him drinking water. She turned over and sat up and said, "Please, give me one too."
Ji Yanlang was startled: "Did I wake you up?"
Lichun heard the noise outside and asked, "Madam, would you like some water? Would you like me to come in and serve you?"
"No need." Ji Yanlang answered for Fang Ying, "I'll pour it for her."
As he spoke, he lit the lamp, poured a glass of water, brought it to the bedside and handed it to Fang Ying.
Fang Ying slowly drank half of the cup, handed it back to Ji Yanlang, and said, "Thank you."
Ji Yanlang laughed: "What's there to thank me for?" As he said this, he turned around and put down the teacup, then watched Fang Ying lie down, blew out the light, and returned to bed.
"Are you not asleep, or were you woken up by me?" Ji Yanlang asked Fang Ying while turning sideways.
"I didn't sleep very well." Fang Ying looked at him in the dim moonlight shining in from the window. "I heard you tossing and turning. Didn't you say it was nothing serious?"
Ji Yanlang replied softly, "Hmm." He continued, "Today, the emperor suddenly asked father about my third and fourth brothers. Father felt that the emperor probably didn't want to see the old father-son succession pattern in the military. He also mentioned the current situation of the military governors in various places redeploying troops and rotating guards..."
Fang Ying had already been drinking, and after hearing what he said, she quickly became sleepy and did not respond.
Ji Yanlang was lost in his own thoughts, not noticing her, and continued, "Actually, I've long felt that my third and fourth brothers shouldn't remain under Father's command. It arouses suspicion in Father's eyes, and as for my two brothers, I haven't seen them improve in three years, and they seem quite arrogant and complacent."
Fang Ying yawned and said vaguely, "Don't tell Father that."
"Of course I won't say it directly, I just took this opportunity to give some advice. Father knows the truth, so he's worried about my two brothers being transferred to someone else's command."
"Is this worth keeping you awake?" Fang Ying's voice became even more vague.
Ji Yanlang finally realized that she was very sleepy and wanted to say, "You go to sleep," but when the words were on the tip of his tongue, he couldn't help but change them to: "Do you remember when we traveled together on the Bian River in spring and talked about the battle of Youzhou? Did you give me any advice?"
Fang Ying's increasingly confused mind raced for a moment before she remembered, "Ah, investigating the sentiments of the people in Youzhou?"
"Yes. I have long since made suggestions to my superiors, but there has been no response. I mentioned this to my father today, and he told me not to interfere." Ji Yanlang's voice grew lower as he spoke, "But I won't give in."
Fang Ying didn't answer. Ji Yanlang paused and sighed, "I know this matter is beyond my control, but even though I know there's a shortcut, it's stuck because the situation down there can't be communicated to the top..."
His voice rose involuntarily, and Fang Ying beside him moved: "Hmm?"
Ji Yanlang leaned over to take a closer look and found that she couldn't even open her eyes. It was obvious that she had fallen asleep and was woken up by him. He hurriedly said softly, "It's okay, go to sleep."
Fang Ying fell asleep immediately. The next morning, she got up, dressed, washed her face, and sat in front of the dressing table. Only then did she remember that she had fallen asleep while talking at night. She didn't understand why Ji Yanlang tossed and turned and sighed.
At this time, Ji Yanlang just walked in from outside. Fang Ying glanced at him in the mirror and saw that his face was sweaty as usual, but he looked energetic and not depressed at all. So she asked with a smile, "Is it hot outside?"
"It's okay now, there's a slight breeze." Ji Yanlang said as he went to wash his face.
Fang Ying waited for him to finish washing, sat down to drink some water, and then said, "I felt very dizzy last night and fell asleep without realizing it."
Ji Yanlang couldn't help but smile: "Yeah, I was wondering why you didn't respond after I talked for so long. When I got closer, I saw that you were already fast asleep."
This was of course not true, but Fang Ying didn't know that the last words Ji Yanlang said that she could recall were "no response yet", so she could only smile and ask, "Then when did you go to bed?"
"Seeing you sleeping soundly, I felt sleepy too and fell asleep quickly." This was the truth.
Ji Yanlang had to go to the cavalry camp today, so it was not convenient to talk about last night's topic. Fang Ying nodded, didn't mention it again, and asked the maid to bring food.
After breakfast, the couple went to the main courtyard to greet each other, and then some went out, some went about their housework, and the day passed in a hurry.
Since tomorrow was the formal day for proposing marriage, neither of them thought about the topic of last night. They chatted for a while and then went to bed.
On the second day, Princess Shengguo and her husband Gao Xingfeng came to propose marriage on behalf of the Duke of Ju. The Ji family happily agreed. The Liu family then presented the betrothal gift. The Ji family handed Ji Si Niang's engagement letter to the matchmaker, and the betrothal gift and the asking for the name ceremony were completed.
After finishing the business, it is natural to serve tea and snacks to properly entertain the two distinguished matchmakers.
Li invited the eldest princess into the main hall in the backyard to chat, while Ji Guangting brought his sons to invite Gao Xingfeng to sit in the front hall.
Fang Ying, along with the other sisters-in-law, paid their respects to the eldest princess, and then stood in turn behind Li. Seeing this, the eldest princess smiled and said, "I heard Qi Niang say that normally there's no need to set rules around the Madam. Why are the children setting rules now that I'm here?"
The Seventh Sister she mentioned was Fang Ying’s fifth sister-in-law Gao - she was the seventh among her sisters from her natal family.
Li smiled and said, "They dare not act presumptuously in front of the eldest princess."
"We are formal relatives, there is no need to be so formal." Having said that, the eldest princess also knew that the daughters-in-law of the Ji family did not dare to sit in front of her, so she told Li to let them go about their own business.
Li sent her daughters-in-law away and entertained the eldest princess herself.
Fang Ying was walking at the end. When she saw them leaving the courtyard, her third sister-in-law An couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and couldn't help but smile.
An didn't notice her. She pulled Gao aside and whispered, "The eldest princess is truly worthy of being a princess. Her style is unique."
Yue Qing'e wanted to say a few words to Fang Ying, but was asked to stop her. She couldn't help but frown and stretched out her hand to wave at Fang Ying behind her.
Fang Ying hurriedly walked around the three An family members and went to Yue Qing'e. She held her arm and asked, "Are you tired, sister-in-law?"
Yue Qing'e shook her head and pulled her to take a few quick steps. When they were far enough away from An and the others, she said, "My waist is a little sore. I'm going to go back and lie down. You stay here first. If anything happens, send someone to call me."
"Okay, I'm here, sister-in-law, go quickly."
Fang Ying walked her for a while before going to the side hall where she usually met the housekeeper. She did her housework while waiting for news from the main wife.
About a meal's time had passed when a maid came hurriedly to report that the eldest princess had asked to leave. Fang Ying hurriedly sent for Yue Qing'e, and she also went to the main room to accompany Li to see the guest off.
The eldest princess and her husband said goodbye and left before noon - they still had to send Ji Si Niang's engagement letter to the Liu family, and after the Liu family had divined the good and bad luck in the ancestral temple, they could propose marriage.
Li asked everyone to leave. Fang Ying returned to her room and had just had a cup of tea when Ji Yanlang also came back.
"General Gao said that he might transfer my third and fourth brothers to Daizhou. He said that the Hu cavalry were defeated in Zhenzhou and would likely make a comeback from the west. The emperor is preparing to send more troops to Daizhou."
"When will this end?" Fang Ying sighed.
"Yeah..." Ji Yanlang also sighed, thinking of the fact that his suggestions had never been followed up, he felt even more depressed - if only he could meet the emperor, then he would have no worries and could say whatever he thought.
By the evening, Ji Yanlang, with a myriad of worries in his mind, couldn't help but say this to Fang Ying.
Fang Ying thought for a moment and said, "If I can't see the emperor, can't I see his son?"
"...You mean, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin?"
"I don't know if it's appropriate, it's just..."
Ji Yanlang interrupted her, "Why not? It's perfectly appropriate!" He suddenly cheered up, "Even if His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin has concerns and doesn't dare to speak out directly to the emperor, there's still Uncle Zhou!"
"..." What kind of world is this? My own father doesn't dare to give me advice, but I have to go around in circles and ask my father-in-law to give me advice?
Ji Yanlang continued, "If Uncle Zhou proposed this, the emperor would definitely listen to it, and the court would not take it lightly..."
Fang Ying yawned and gently poured a basin of cold water on him: "Don't be too happy too soon. What if the King of Qin is too cautious and doesn't even want to see Uncle Zhou?"
“…” Ji Yanlang turned off the engine instantly.
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