Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Ji Yanlang saw her smiling face, double...
"Uncle Zhou was demoted from commander-in-chief of the cavalry and infantry to deputy commander-in-chief, Li Hansheng and Qiao Weiming were both demoted to defense envoys, and the merits and demerits of the remaining generals were offset and no rewards or punishments were given." Ji Yanlang sat next to Li and reported to his mother.
Ji Yanshou on the other side continued, "Uncle Zhou's demotion is just a formality. The Emperor hasn't appointed a new commander of the cavalry and infantry. The Imperial Guards are still under the command of Uncle Zhou."
Ji Yanlang nodded: "Not bad."
Originally, the battle of Youzhou was something the emperor had insisted on fighting. Zhou Guojiu had even advised against it, and he never missed any opportunity during the battle. To be fair, he really couldn't be blamed.
Li smiled and said, "Uncle Zhou is a loyal minister to the emperor. How could the emperor really demote him? Well, let's not talk about other people's affairs. Liu Lang has been rewarded again, but your father and Sanlang and Silang are still fighting the enemy and can't return home. So, let's skip the banquet. I'll have the kitchen prepare a feast, and we'll celebrate at home tonight."
The two brothers responded with a smile, and then in the evening, the whole family gathered in the West Flower Hall again to drink and celebrate Ji Yanlang's reward for his meritorious service.
Four fathers and sons went to the battlefield together, but only Ji Yanlang received a reward. An and Cheng felt a little unhappy, especially since their husbands were still defending the city in Zhenzhou and could not return home. As usual, they would inevitably join in and say a few sour words.
But An still remembered the day when Liu Lang came back and Cheng had used her to please him in front of her, so she refused to be the first to take action and just drank and laughed happily.
Seeing that she was fine, Cheng also acted as if nothing had happened and only said nice things, saying that Liu Lang had a bright future and that his achievements in the future might be no less than those of the Duke of the County. She also said that if they attacked Youzhou again in the future, Liu Lang would surely be highly valued by the government and make new achievements. Her words were so exaggerated that even Fang Ying could hardly bear to listen.
Li, on the other hand, listened calmly, and finally said to Ji Yanlang, "Your sisters-in-law love you, so just listen to them, but don't take it to heart and think you are so great."
"How could that be? My son has been embarrassed for a long time." Ji Yanlang answered with a smile, and raised his glass to toast his sisters-in-law, "I will remember your expectations in my heart. I will do my best in the future to live up to your expectations."
After finishing this glass of wine, it was already getting late. Li smiled and said, "Let's go home for today. When the tenth day comes and we have a day off, I'll take you out to enjoy the flowers and go for an outing. We can have a few more drinks then."
Everyone was pleasantly surprised to hear this - since the incident with Ji Yanlang during the expedition to Jiaozhi that year, the Ji family had never gone out for fun together. Now that the lady had spoken personally, they would surely be able to have a good time.
"Do you think mother had planned to go out on her day off in advance, or did she suddenly come up with the idea during the dinner?" Fang Ying asked Ji Yanlang on the way back to the room.
Ji Yanlang was surprised: "Mom didn't even tell you?"
Fang Ying laughed. "You think too much of me... How could Mother tell me everything?" She thought for a moment and continued, "I guess Mother planned this in advance, at least before the banquet."
"Well, mother isn't the type to make promises in public on a whim. She must have planned this long ago." Ji Yanlang nodded in agreement, and added, "But I thought that for something like this, mother would ask my second sister-in-law to discuss and prepare with you."
"Today is only the first day of the new year, and it's still early for a day off. It's not too late to discuss it tomorrow. Mother probably wanted to use the opportunity of celebrating for you to tell you first and make everyone happier." Fang Ying was very happy at the moment. She had been enjoying the beautiful spring scenery these days, but she couldn't go out, and she had been bored for a long time.
Seeing her face full of smiles, her eyes sparkling in the light of the lanterns, and her expression full of longing, Ji Yanlang's heart softened. He leaned close to her and whispered, "Come with me to Xiangguo Temple on the eighth day of the first lunar month. After we burn incense and come out, I'll take you on a boat trip on the Bian River."
Fang Ying turned around immediately: "Really?"
Ji Yanlang laughed: "Why would I tell a lie? Of course it's true."
"It's a deal!" Fang Ying had drunk some wine and was really happy at the moment, so her tone was a little high when she spoke.
Ji Yanlang was used to her calm and composed demeanor, but this was the first time he saw her so excited and happy. He couldn't help but smile and replied, "It's a deal. I'll take you wherever you want to go in the future."
Fang Ying was too busy being happy at the moment to think too much about it. When she recalled it the next day, she suddenly realized that there seemed to be a hint of indulgence in Ji Yanlang's tone... No, no, no, Fang Ying shook her head vigorously. It was impossible. She must have drunk some wine last night and felt a little dizzy, so she remembered it wrongly.
"Why are you shaking your head, Sixth Sister-in-law?" Yue Qing'e asked with a smile, "But you don't want to go to Fantai?"
"Ah?" Fang Ying came back to her senses, looked at her, then at Li, smiled and tried to cover up something, "No, I was just thinking, since we're going to Fantai, should we stop by Tianqing Temple to burn incense?"
Fantai is located in the southeast corner of the outer city, and Tianqing Temple is built on Fantai.
Li shook her head and said, "Since you are out for fun, you shouldn't enter the temple and disturb the tranquility of Buddhism. Just ask someone to send some incense money."
Fang Ying and Yue Qing'e agreed in unison. Li then instructed, "Many people go out for fun in spring, and carriages tend to get stuck in traffic. The women should all ride in warm sedan chairs. Including me, your sisters-in-law, and Si Niang, there should be seven warm sedan chairs in total."
After the travel arrangements were made, they discussed for a while what food, drinks, and various toys to bring; in addition, they had to arrange for the manager to go to Fantai in advance to circle out places with good views and scenery, and make arrangements early... There were so many trivial matters, and it took them half a day to discuss them before Fang Ying and Yue Qing'e started to deal with them.
She was very busy here, and Ji Yanlang also sent someone back to say that he was stopped by his childhood playmates when he came out of the cavalry camp. They took him out for a drink and asked him to go home late, so he didn't have to wait for him to eat.
Fang Ying was just busy with her own things without being distracted - she and Yue Qing'e divided the various preparatory matters into two groups, each of them in charge of one group. Yue Qing'e was in charge of the internal affairs, and she was responsible for all the items needed for the trip, either finding them from the mansion or arranging their purchases. Fang Ying was in charge of the external affairs, and was responsible for selecting the scenic spots in Fantai and how to use the curtains for partitions afterwards. Once the manager had a general outline, she would have to go and take a look in person before making a final decision.
"I'm afraid the lotus pod will give birth in the next few days. I can't leave the house, so I'm sorry to trouble you." Yue Qing'e said this when assigning the baby.
"Why are you being so polite to me, sister-in-law?" Fang Ying said in a low voice, "I'm really looking forward to going out more and taking in the beautiful scenery outside."
Yue Qing'e laughed: "I forgot, you are still at the age of playing around."
Thinking about how Fang Ying had worked so hard in the past three years since she got married, but she had no husband to care for her, she felt a little distressed and said, "Since that's the case, why don't you take a walk around Fantai and see if there's anything delicious or fun to do for us."
"Hey, don't worry, sister-in-law."
After the two of them had discussed it, they went about their business. Fang Ying called the butler over and told him that his wife wanted to go to Fantai to enjoy the spring. She asked him to recommend two smart and capable stewards who were familiar with the topography of the capital. She also asked him for advice on how to make this kind of spring outing in the suburbs enjoyable for everyone and avoid any mistakes.
The chief steward had been working as the steward of the Ji Mansion for more than 20 years. In the past, when he was in Yangzhou, he had to organize three or four large and small banquets a year. He knew the rules by heart. But there was one thing: when the Ji family was in Yangzhou, there were no taboos. They could go wherever they wanted to travel and banquet, and occupy as much space as they wanted. They would do whatever made the host feel comfortable. But now it is different.
He said this tactfully, and Fang Ying smiled and said, "I understand. That's why I asked the chief steward to come and ask for your advice. Madam's intention was to let the whole family relax and have a good time for a day. No need for any big ceremony."
At this time, the two managers recommended by the chief steward also came. Fang Ying asked them to give suggestions. After they had a rough idea in their minds, she sent them to Fantai to take a look tomorrow.
It was getting late, and Fang Ying saw that it was almost time for dinner, so she didn't go back to her room, but went directly to Li's room to have dinner with her.
After dinner, Fang Ying asked casually, "I just remembered when I was discussing with the head steward, are we taking our nephews and nieces with us on this trip?"
"Take them all. They're just right this year, and there aren't any that are too small."
"We need to ask them to buy some nice kites."
Mrs. Li smiled and nodded: "Well, buy more, and then you sisters-in-law and Si Niang will go and put them there."
Fang Ying pretended to be surprised: "How did you tell that I wanted to fly a kite too?"
Mrs. Li laughed: "What young lady doesn't like flying kites? Do you even need to see this?"
"Oh..." Fang Ying raised her hands to cover her face, "It turns out that mother saw through everything."
Although she knew her daughter-in-law was deliberately trying to cheer her up, Li still smiled happily: "Why should you be embarrassed in my place? Just prepare whatever you want to play. After all, I've handed all the power over to you and your second sister-in-law, so what are you afraid of?"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were talking happily when the maid came in and reported: "Liu Lang is back."
Fang Ying stood up. Ji Yanlang's voice could be heard from outside, accompanied by footsteps: "What are you talking about? You look so happy. I heard mother laughing in the yard."
As soon as he finished speaking, he also walked into the inner room. Li looked at her son and saw that his face was slightly red, but his eyes were bright and not cloudy. He must not be drunk. She smiled and replied, "Ying'er said to buy more kites and take your nephews and nieces to fly them."
"Okay." Ji Yanlang smiled and glanced at Fang Ying, then walked over to her side. "My son wants to go too."
"You've achieved something." Mrs. Li glanced at him. "Okay, it's getting late. Go back and rest. The smell of alcohol on you is making me uncomfortable."
Ji Yanlang: "...You're already disgusted with your son after he's only been home for a few days? Your son still has something to say to you."
"What?"
"The emperor is holding a banquet in the palace today."
"Oh, your second brother told me when he got home."
Ji Yanlang chuckled: "Did Second Brother mention that Uncle is also attending the banquet?"
Li said, "It is said that even your uncle, along with those from Northern Zhao, Southern Liang, Wu and Yue, will attend the palace banquet."
"That's right, just wait. From today onwards, my uncle will no longer be tough with our family. Maybe when my father comes home, he will even invite him to have a reunion." Ji Yanlang looked very proud.
Mrs. Li just smiled faintly: "That's not necessary. It's best for our two families to keep their distance from each other like we do now."
Ji Yanlang was stunned for a moment, then he smiled and said, "Mom, you think so clearly, it seems that your son is obsessed." After saying this, he and Fang Ying took their leave and went back to their rooms.
Fang Ying didn't think too much about it at the moment. He just thought that the emperor held a banquet today to celebrate the conquest of Northern Zhao and to show off the emperor's military power to the surrendered ministers from all directions. Unexpectedly, he heard early the next morning that at the palace banquet last night, the emperor had publicly agreed to several marriages. The one that shocked the ministers the most was the marriage proposal for the King of Qin, who had just been promoted to the prefect of Kaifeng, to the daughter of Zhou Guojiu.
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