Chapter 140: The expedition is imminent
As soon as the palace heard that the princess was pregnant, someone in the palace immediately spread the news to everyone. Zhao Xiaofei specially invited Zhang Shulan to live in the palace and said to Princess Kunxing, "If you need anything, call Aunt Zhang!"
Zhao Xiaofei thought, OK! This time I can't sleep with the princess. The princess also didn't let him sleep with her, saying she was afraid he would touch her belly while sleeping.
So Zhao Xiaofei went to Li Sihong's place. Li Sihong was busy taking care of Li Guangzong and had no time to spend with Zhao Xiaofei. She then pushed him into Kou Baimen's room. To be honest, he and Kou Baimen had the least affection. He really needed to get to know her better!
Kou Baimen was delighted to see her husband arrive, and she went to decorate her room. She hadn't been in the mood to decorate her new house in Nanjing. But when she saw Zhao Xiaofei coming, she suddenly remembered to decorate it!
Zhao Xiaofei laughed and said, "What's the point of decorating? No matter how I decorate it, it's not as beautiful as you!"
Kou Baimen blushed at Zhao Xiaofei's words. She picked up the pipa and said, "My dear, is there any song you want to hear? I'll play it for you!"
"Hey, I've been making up a few songs lately. How about I sing them and you compose the music?" Zhao Xiaofei said. He'd been listening to a lot of old songs in modern times recently, and they sounded great. He'd specially memorized them so he could sing them for the ladies back home.
"My husband's songs will surely be sung everywhere on the Qinhuai River!" said Kou Baimen.
"Qinhuai River? Sooner or later everyone in the Ming Dynasty will sing my songs! But tonight I will only sing for you!" After saying that, he took Kou Baimen's hand and sang Tu Honggang's "You" while dancing.
You descended from the sky, landing on my horse's back. Your face was like jade, your eyes like clear water. A faint smile warmed my heart. Without even turning back, you spread your wings. Searching for the direction, the direction was ahead. A sigh chilled my life.
You were there, amidst the crowd, feeling the immense glory. I couldn't see your eyes, wondering if they were hiding tears. I don't have the strength to forget, and even if I wanted to, I couldn't.
Just wait until the dark night and dream about the girl I once loved!
Kou Baimen was familiar with the soft music of Jiangnan, but it was the first time she heard a song sung so vigorously to a woman, and her heart melted!
Zhao Xiaofei used to love music, but unfortunately his family didn't have the means back then. Now that he has the means, he's too busy, so he can only ask his wives to learn more, sing himself, and have them accompany him. Nowadays, the family has a wide variety of instruments: piano, guitar, drum set, cello, violin, and basically everything. Two foreign missionaries also come to teach them, so Kou Baimen and Li Sihong have quite high musical attainments.
After Zhao Xiaofei finished dancing and singing with Kou Baimen in his arms, Kou Baimen began composing a piece of music. Then he played it on the piano. The two of them spent the entire evening singing and playing piano. Zhao Xiaofei didn't remember to get back to work until three in the morning. Then they hurried off to sleep! Of course, Doctor Hu's plaster still had to be applied the next morning.
The next day, Zhao Xiaofei returned from court and called all three of his wives over. His son, Li Guangzong, was also there. Zhao Xiaofei said, "In a few days, I will be leaving to pacify Zuo Liangyu. You all should wait for me at home!"
"Princess, take Emperor Guangzong to the palace to accompany the Queen Mother! Do you understand?" Zhao Xiaofei said. Zhao Xiaofei's meaning was very clear. Look, if I go out, my wife and children will all be in the palace. I will not rebel!
Li Sihong was unwilling, of course, but she knew there was no other way. She could raise the child on her own, and even give him the surname Li. She was the first person in the Ming Dynasty, except for ethnic minorities. What else could she be dissatisfied with?
"I know! Be careful on the road! Now that I'm pregnant, you must think about me and the child in everything!" Princess Kunxing said.
"Okay! I will definitely return triumphantly!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"Husband! I want to go with you!" said Li Sihong.
"Me too!" said Kou Baimen.
"I'm going to fight! What are you two doing following me?" Zhao Xiaofei said.
"We have led the militia to deal with Ruan Dacheng before. So why can't we go to fight with you?" Kou Baimen said.
"There are regulations in the army that we cannot bring female relatives!" said Zhao Xiaofei.
"We are not women! We are female generals! Isn't the general of Shizhu also a woman?" Li Sihong said.
"Sister is right!" said Kou Baimen.
"Then the court will not dare to let me lead the troops! I can fight, and my two wives can fight too. If the time comes and I want my whole family to rebel together, can the court tolerate it?" Zhao Xiaofei said.
"Mother won't think so! It will be better if we take them with us so that someone can take care of them on the road!" Princess Kunxing said.
"How can this be possible?" Zhao Xiaofei said.
"Why not? I will go to the palace tomorrow and tell the Queen Mother!" said Princess Kunxing.
The next day, Kunxing brought Li Guangzong to the palace. Princess Kunxing felt a pang of anguish upon entering. If Zhao Xiaofei had rebelled, how could you have sat peacefully in this palace? My husband is a hero; he turned the tide and saved the Ming Dynasty from its peril. Do you really not trust him? You even need me and my child to be taken hostage in the palace! It's a pity that beautiful women are often doomed to a tragic fate, especially the ruthless imperial family.
Arriving at Kunning Palace, it was not much different from the one in the capital. Empress Dowager Zhou still sat there with dignity, but her status and attitude were completely different. Princess Kunxing was about to take Li Guangzong to pay her respects when Empress Dowager Zhou said, "Forget it! You're pregnant now, so you need to be more careful! Tell Wang Erxi that Duke Xu's family has presented some tonics, some of which are very beneficial for the fetus. I'll have Wang Erxi send them back to your palace."
"Thank you, mother! Mother, I have something I would like to ask for your approval!" said Princess Kunxing.
"Tell me! What's the matter? As long as your mother can do it, I will definitely agree to it!" said Queen Mother Zhou.
"My husband is going to the battlefield tomorrow. Can he take his two concubines with him so that someone can take care of them on the way?" said Princess Kunxing.
Empress Dowager Zhou's face froze when she heard this, but then she smiled and said, "If you're not jealous, I have no objection! I'm just worried that this will affect his military prestige!"
"It's okay! I'll be relieved as long as someone can take good care of him!" said Princess Kunxing.
"Okay! Then go! Cijiong and Zhaoren have been telling me every day these days that they haven't seen their sister for a long time. You should go and see them!" said Queen Mother Zhou.
"Yes! I won't disturb your rest, mother. I'll take my leave!" Princess Kunxing said, and then she took Li Guangzong out of Kunning Palace.
When Empress Dowager Zhou saw Kunxing leave, her face immediately fell. She sighed and said, "A daughter once married is like spilled water! Why don't you think more about the Ming Dynasty and your royal brother?"
Kunxing left Kunning Palace and arrived at Wenhua Hall. Zhu Cijiong was being tortured by some old pedants while studying the Four Books and Five Classics! Watching his younger brother from afar, seemingly about to fall asleep, he recalled Zhao Xiaofei's words. Yesterday, Zhao Xiaofei had told him that his children didn't need to learn the Four Books and Five Classics; just understanding their meanings would be enough. When they grow up, they should learn more about history, geography, physics, and chemistry. He also wanted to take them out and about more often. Traveling is better than studying.
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