Chapter 425 Da Bao: Mother Above the Marshal
The next day, Hua Murong packed his things and went to the manor to seek refuge with Yun Zhaoxue. He didn't want to be invited around to treat patients, so he went to the manor to find some peace and quiet.
Xiao Mingshu was also there.
She missed her third sister-in-law and her two nephews.
When she arrived at the estate, she discovered that Lu Tingzhi was also there.
Not only was he there, but Pei Huaiji and Xu Yao were also present.
Did you think they were gathered together to discuss matters of national importance, how to prevent the two countries from negotiating peace, and how to expose the Great Jing's delaying tactics?
No, no, no, they're all in the fields planting rice seedlings.
Although Hua Murong was not in the court, he often heard people discussing recent major events in the court when he went to teahouses and taverns to drink and eat every day. The pro-war and pro-peace factions were tearing each other apart.
The emperor was approaching thirty and still had no children, while the concubines in the harem were getting pregnant one after another, only to miscarry in quick succession.
Whether it was someone deliberately stirring up rumors or the people's feudal superstition, some people actually spread the word that because the emperor was morally flawed, had done immoral things, and was utterly devoid of conscience, Heaven was punishing him and he was destined to be childless.
Zhao Xuan's despicable act lay in his selfishness. Despite the favorable situation of the border war where the enemy was inferior and we were superior, he forcibly issued an order to withdraw troops instead of pursuing the victory, marching north to the enemy's Stone City, and welcoming back the emperor.
Instead, they negotiated peace with the enemy and also sought a marriage alliance with the Da Jing.
Those beasts in Dajing have defiled countless women of Dazhou, yet the emperor himself sent his own sister to Dajing for a political marriage.
To be disloyal to one's country, unfilial to one's ruler and father, unkind to one's siblings, and unjust to the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion—is that not utterly devoid of conscience?
The world is about to descend into chaos again!
Hua Murong saw a group of young people in the field who had rolled up their trousers and were planting rice seedlings.
They ate chilled watermelon under a makeshift tent set up by the field.
"The court is in complete chaos, how can you still be in the mood to farm?"
The pro-war faction had been suppressed to the ground by the pro-peace faction led by Prime Minister Qin, and they felt that the pro-peace faction would probably target the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion again, with the worst offenders being beheaded and the worst offenders being exiled.
He was so worried for them.
Sitting to his right, Da Bao said, "Grandpa Hua, don't worry. This tactic is called retreating to advance. Food is the foundation of winning battles. Soldiers need to be well-fed to have the strength to fight."
Erbao added, "Yes, Mom said that a short-term victory is temporary, and it's still uncertain who will have the last laugh."
“That makes sense. I didn’t expect you two little kids to have such foresight than someone like me who’s lived most of my life. The younger generation is truly formidable; the new generation is surpassing the old.”
Erbao said with a grin, "Grandpa Hua, you flatter us. We are all destined to become great generals in the future."
Hua Murong then asked, "If everyone wants to be a general, then who will be the marshal?"
"Father."
Da Bao said, "Mother."
Erbao retorted, "No, no, Daddy is the marshal. Going to the battlefield is very tiring. Mommy doesn't need to go to the battlefield. We are enough."
Da Bao smiled but didn't say anything. He said his mother was a marshal, implying that his mother was above the marshal.
What lies above a marshal?
Of course, it's the emperor.
Pei Huaiji's arm was injured and he couldn't get out of bed. His two young nephews also often ran outside and couldn't stay inside. He could only talk to Xu Yao, who was lying in bed recovering from his injury, to relieve his boredom, but he didn't want to stay inside anymore.
At noon, he helped deliver lunch to the field, tapping the edge of the wooden bucket with an iron ladle, saying, "Lunch is ready, lunch is ready."
Xiao Mingshu had nothing to do, so she also helped deliver meals.
Xiao Xuance did not see his wife.
He asked his younger sister, "Where's your third sister-in-law?"
"Third Sister-in-law is entertaining guests: Military Advisor Lu, Young Master Li, and Brother Lu. They heard in Lingnan that the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion was surrounded by the Imperial Guards and that something might happen to it, so they rushed over to see if there was anything they could do to help."
"Who is Young Master Li? And who is Brother Lu? I've never heard of them before?"
Xiao Mingshu continued, "The Li family is a well-known wealthy merchant family in Lingnan. Brother Lu is the uncle of Military Advisor Lu. You only met them after you went north to quell the rebellion of the foreign merchants. Third Brother has never met them, so of course he doesn't know them."
Alright, as the man of the estate, he must greet the guests who have come from afar.
He stopped eating, got up, and walked back to the village.
When Lu Tingzhi saw Xiao Mingshu serving food, he stood beside her, picked up a spoon, and helped her serve the food.
Most people know Lu Tingzhi, but they don't know that he and Xiao Mingshu'er have reached the point of discussing marriage.
He praised Lu Tingzhi for his good fortune.
Miss Xiao Si comes from a noble family with the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion behind her. She is also an apprentice of a divine physician, possessing excellent medical skills. Yet, she has no airs of a rich young lady and is dignified and generous.
A man who marries such a woman is truly blessed.
After getting their food, they served themselves last.
Under the teasing or ambiguous gazes of his brothers, Lu Tingzhi carried the food and led Xiao Mingshu to the other side.
If it weren't for the current unstable situation, the two would have already been discussing marriage.
Xiao Mingshu had already eaten, and was watching Lu Tingzhi eat.
Farming is physically demanding and tiring. As soon as Lu Xiao and the others smelled the hot food, they couldn't help but shovel it into their mouths, completely disregarding their image.
He was the only one being stared at intently by his sweetheart, and out of consideration for his image, he was too embarrassed to wolf down his food like the others.
It's as elegant as writing or painting.
When Xiao Mingshu was in Lingnan, she personally experienced how tiring farming was. After working for half a day, she was so hungry that she would shovel food into her mouth whenever she saw it.
She noticed that the man's cheeks were sunburned, and there was a patch of mud stuck to his forehead. His coarse clothes and the surrounding environment seemed incongruous with his elegant eating manners.
Xiao Mingshu glanced to the side, and seeing that no one was paying attention to him, she quietly reached out and poked his waist.
"Aren't you hungry? You're eating so slowly. You can eat like them and don't have to worry about me."
She was a doctor, and most of the people she encountered at the clinic were ordinary people, so there weren't many formalities.
Lu Tingzhi shrank back, his head buzzing. He did as she said and shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth.
He used to be a scholar from a family with a rich tradition of learning. He valued etiquette and always maintained a refined demeanor in public and in private. However, after spending more than a year in the army, he changed a lot. Sometimes, when he was busy, he would wolf down his food.
Hearing her beloved say that, she abandoned her refined demeanor and quickly began to eat.
Xiao Mingshu looked at his reddened earlobes and smiled, "Slow down, be careful not to choke."
"Have a drink of water."
On the other side, Hongzao was also showing concern for Zhuiying, wiping her face and handing her water. They were both showing affection on both sides, which made the group of single people extremely envious. They shook their heads and continued to bury themselves in their food.
Once the world is at peace, they will find wives, have children, and live a good life.
Li Rui and his group did not come empty-handed this time; they brought several large ships full of grain.
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