The war in the second year of Yanxi completely crippled Beiliang. They had no room to fight back in the peace talks and were forced to sign all the treaties. The Beiliang envoys thought that they would inevitably cede land, pay compensation and submit to the state, but the final result was better than they expected. Beiliang agreed to submit to the State of Chen and pay tribute every year, but Chen did not ask much from Beiliang. The chief negotiator, Lord Mu, said with disdain that Beiliang was barren and poor, and could not squeeze out three taels of meat, and could not afford to compensate for the losses of Chen. The Beiliang people were ashamed of their words, and their heads were almost pressed into their stomachs. At the end, Lord Mu said something about supporting the Beiliang economy, building a border trade market, and assisting Beiliang education. They were confused, but nodded with ecstasy - this was to send them something!
Beiliang people did have few scholars, and most of them admired the cultural prosperity of Chen, but only the nobles and royal families had the opportunity to learn the culture of Chen, but ordinary people did not have this opportunity. Lord Mu said that he wanted to build a school for Beiliang and educate the people of Beiliang. This is a great thing, like pie in the sky. How could anyone refuse?
I heard that there was a lot of controversy in the court of Chen State. It seems that some people are unwilling. The people of Chen State are unwilling, which means that this is a good thing for Beiliang. Although Lord Mu's words are not very pleasant, he is really dedicated to Beiliang. I don't know how much bribes he received from their King of Beiliang...
Although this matter is controversial, it was finally decided with the support of Prince Ding and Emperor Yanxi
. In September of the second year of Yanxi, everything was settled. Beiliang officially surrendered to Chen State and was incorporated into the territory of Chen State. It was renamed Shuobei Protectorate. Chen State sent officials to manage government affairs with the royal family of Beiliang. Beiliang got a lot of benefits and returned to the capital with a smile on his face.
Accompanying them were two senior officials of Chen State.
One was Prince Ding, who was also the Grand Protector of Shuobei Protectorate who was about to take office.
The other was Mu Zhuohua, the Minister of Rites, who was also the soon-to-be-appointed Deputy Protector General of Shuobei Protectorate.
The two of them led a large group of Chen State craftsmen, scholars, and soldiers to Shuobei. They did not walk fast along the way, as the envoys of Shuobei had already gone back to prepare the reception etiquette. Before the people of Chen State arrived, their reputation had spread to Shuobei. Several envoys praised Mu Zhuohua, saying that this Lord Mu was kind, capable, and good-looking.
Therefore, when Mu Zhuohua and Liu Yan's convoy arrived in Shuobei, they were not hated and excluded as they expected. First, the Grand Protector General Liu Yan was a terrifying demon who could stop children from crying at night, so naturally no one dared to act badly in front of him. Second, Mu Zhuohua had the endorsement of the original Beiliang envoy, and the officials of Shuobei Protectorate also tacitly accepted her as one of their own, and treated her even more cordially. Liu Yan and Mu Zhuohua played the white face and the red face respectively. With such a combination, the efficiency of their work was unexpectedly high.
But there was one thing they hadn't expected. Somehow, the rumor that Liu Yan and Mu Zhuohua were not getting along had spread from Dingjing to Shuobei, and everyone was talking about it in a serious way.
It was said that Lady Mu had offended the prince in the court and was removed from her teaching position.
The deputy governor of Shuobei was not an easy job, and the officials of Dingjing avoided it as much as possible. She must have offended the prince, so she was assigned to suffer here.
Moreover, Lady Mu stayed in the carriage of the prince every day, learning the Northern Liang dialect from him. Every time she got off the carriage, her eyes were wet and red, and she looked like she had been wronged.
Lady Mu was kind to others, without any airs, and her eyebrows and eyes were always smiling, so she was very popular. However, the prince of Ding was too majestic and could not hide his murderous aura. Although everyone felt sorry for her, they did not dare to say anything about the prince of Ding.
Zhijian, on the other hand, heard some gossip and came to complain to Liu Yan indignantly. Liu Yan just smiled and said, "I am so happy that others like her, how can I be angry? As for bullying her... it is not a rumor."
Zhijian felt that Liu Yan was just protecting Mu Zhuohua. It was obvious that Mu Zhuohua bullied the prince more. Although he recognized Mu Zhuohua now, his heart was still with Liu Yan. He couldn't bear to see his own prince's husband's power weaken. Seeing him like this, Zhimo didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said, "Zhijian, do you know what the interest of husband and wife is?"
Zhijian glanced at him: "Do you know?"
Zhimo touched his nose and smiled, "It means to accept being beaten and scolded, and to work hard without complaint."
After that, he heard a call from behind: "Brother Zhimo, it's time to practice martial arts!"
Zhijian looked at Zhimo's heavy and happy back, and felt that he seemed to have grasped something.
The winter in Shuobei was colder and drier than that in Dingjing, but not as unbearable as Mu Zhuohua had imagined. Later, she thought that it was probably because someone around her took such good care of her. He knew that she was afraid of the cold, so he always kept the ground heating on. When it snowed, he would also add a coat for her in time. She missed the fruits and vegetables in Jiangnan, but he did not say it out loud, so he had people send them from afar. Everything he did was silent, like the spring rain moistening things silently, making her unconsciously accustomed to his meticulous care.
He was like a very patient hunter, weaving an overwhelming net, making her deeply trapped in it and enjoying it. It
was probably the first month after arriving in Shuobei that she slept in Liu Yan's room in a daze. It seemed that he said this sentence-since you will wake up in my bed every day, why not move in and sleep directly?
Mu Zhuohua felt that this sentence made some sense, so she bought another set of bedding on Liu Yan's big bed-although she didn't use it often, she always fell asleep in his arms.
Without Mu Zhuohua's company, Guo Juli guarded the courtyard alone, sighing sadly: "Miss, how could you be fooled by the prince so easily? Did you just move in and sleep with him?"
Mu Zhuohua's eyes rolled around, flashing a shrewd light, and he murmured in a low voice: "Of course it's because I also covet his body..."
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But such intimacy is only at night. During the day, both of them are busy. Liu Yan has to rectify the military defense of Shuobei, and Mu Zhuohua has to worry about the preparations for the border trade market and the various schools. It is often late at night before the two can meet and say a few words, and most of them talk about official business. Of course, they often go to bed before they finish talking.
But she is not always the one who is bullied. After all, she is a smart Mu Zhuohua. She wants to do everything to the best of her ability. Even in bed, she is not willing to be manipulated by others. Before long, she can turn the tables and regain her ground on Liu Yan. But she was a weak scholar after all, and could not compare with Liu Yan who had recovered to his heyday. Every counterattack she made was like a flash in the pan, and in the end she had to nestle in Liu Yan's arms and beg for mercy.
There were a few times when she was bullied by him especially badly because she was stopped on the street and confessed.
The people of Beiliang are so straightforward. If they like someone, they will say it, and they are not afraid of being rejected. As long as their feelings are conveyed, they will be satisfied.
The people of Chen are forbearing and restrained. They love someone very much, but they always have various concerns and dare not say it out loud or make it public.
Mu Zhuohua had her own gentle way to get rid of the lover. If she ran into Liu Yan, her method would be much more cruel. No one was not afraid of the angry Grand Protector. In front of him, they were only afraid and weak, and could only beg for mercy and get out.
In the end, Mu Zhuohua was left alone, smiling at Liu Yan's jealousy.
She was pressed into his arms, and he kissed her lips punishingly, complaining in a low voice that she was too popular.
Mu Zhuohua leaned in his arms and said with a smile: "You are also popular with me."
Liu Yan was slightly stunned, and the resentment in his heart was blown away by her soft words.
Mu Zhuohua looked at him with a smile: "I have thought of a way to get rid of these troubles once and for all."
Liu Yan asked curiously: "What method?"
Mu Zhuohua leaned close to his ear, blew air and whispered: "Liu Yan, let's get married."
She thought Liu Yan would be overjoyed, but he just looked at her with some doubts, as if he didn't hear her words clearly, but he actually heard it clearly, but he just didn't dare to believe it.
"You..." The hand on her waist tightened unconsciously, and her usually gentle voice suddenly became hoarse, "Are you serious?"
Mu Zhuohua's dark and moist almond eyes were full of smiles, her eyebrows were curved, and the stars in the sky were not as bright as her eyes. She smiled and asked: "Are you unhappy, are you unwilling, are you afraid?"
Happy? More than happy...
willing? More than willing...
afraid...
Liu Yan lowered his eyes and smiled, and his warm lips were imprinted on her smooth forehead: "Zhuohua, I am not afraid, I am just afraid that you have been wronged."
The kiss fell gently on her heart, but it was heavy, pressing on the softest part of her heart, making her sore and sweet, and she couldn't help but redden her eyes.
She hugged him tightly and whispered: "I can't bear to see you being wronged..."
Give a peach to a peach, and return it with a jade, not for repayment, but for eternal friendship.
Her heart is an empty jar, and someone patiently poured warm water into it little by little until it overflowed.
He had climbed the most precipitous mountains, seen the most dazzling scenery, and also fallen into the darkest abyss and the most desperate quagmire. He had become indifferent to vanity, but was still willing to accompany her through this world again, to watch her rise and shine, to become his pride.
He never complained about his grievances, but it made her feel distressed.
She held his hand, and pressed her soft palm into his palm, their fingers intertwined, inseparable.
"I had a dream last night." She lowered her head and smiled, with a shy rouge color on her face. "I dreamed that I was wearing a bright wedding dress, waiting for you to marry me, but I waited for a long time, and I didn't wait for you."
Liu Yan's breath was choked, and he couldn't help but hold her hand tightly, and called hoarsely: "Zhuohua..."
"But why should I wait?" She raised her head slightly, her eyes were scorching, as beautiful as flowers, "It has always been you who accommodated me and tolerated me. You have walked a long way, and I have always been waiting for you. Now I don't want to wait anymore. Let me go to you in this last step, okay?"
In that dream, she lifted the veil and opened the door, only to see him outside the door.
It turned out that he was also waiting for her, waiting for her to open the last door.
Perhaps it was the enthusiasm and courage of the Beiliang people that infected her, making her want to have a desperate confession in this life to let him know that she loved him very much.
She had already decided to die alone, if she hadn't met him.
In this life, she claimed to be smart and had no plan left out, but she miscalculated her feelings for him.
She was afraid of losing, but only in his arms, she was fearless.
She responded with an extremely gentle kiss on her lips and a hoarse and affectionate whisper between her lips and teeth
- "Okay."
He knew that her heart was tightly closed, but he never thought of giving up.
One year, two years, ten years, twenty years, he was willing to be with her in any form or relationship.
The world respected him, feared him, and hated him, but only she saw his gentleness and fragility. She said that he was tolerating her willfulness, but she didn't know that she was also his salvation. The peach blossom blooming on the edge of the cliff, with its bright and brilliant color, was the only color he saw in the darkness. It was his desire to survive when he was away from his soul for three days and lingered on the edge of life and death.
How lucky he was that she was the first to open the door that year and that night, and walked into his world, giving him a different light from then on.
The end of the text
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