lady, please calm down

"Sister, don't blink! Just bear with it."

In the back house of the palace, Yu Nong held up the cat's eyelids with her thumb and index finger, and kept blowing air on the cat's eyeballs. The airflow took away the moisture, and the dry and sour feelings instantly made the cat's eyes red, and a pool of tears quickly formed on the upper edge of the full eye bags.

At the side, Cai Huan hurriedly pushed Chen Chu in front of the dressing mirror, quickly opened Mao'er's dressing table, took out a powder box at random, dipped a thin brush in scented powder and was about to rub it on Chen Chu's face.

Mao'er, whose eyelids were still propped up by Yunong, saw Cai Hua's actions from the corner of his eye and said hurriedly, "You got the wrong one! That's the No. 3 powder, which is slightly rosy in color. Use the No. 5 powder, which is pure white!"

Cai Hua followed the advice and immediately searched around, picked out the No. 5 scented powder that Mao'er mentioned, and was about to apply it on Chen Chu's face again. However, Chen Chu involuntarily stepped back and said in protest, "Not really, right?"

"Tsk!" Cai Hua held the powder box in one hand and pinched Chen Chu's chin with the other, turning his face to face her, and said, "How could it be possible! Hundreds of villagers outside the mansion are speaking up for you! If people knew that you had done nothing wrong, wouldn't that be a waste of everyone's feelings! Be obedient, and you'll be doing it for the country and the people!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Cai Huan had already taken action. With just a few strokes, Chen Chu's face, which had turned wheat-colored due to years of fighting, quickly turned pale.

In another corner of the room, Bailu brought a small stove, and Hanlu put the medicine pot filled with herbs that he had prepared long ago on it.

Just as all this was done, Zhuan Yun came running in and shouted as soon as he entered the door: "Princess, Lady Cai, Xiao Yi has brought people from the Southern Dynasty into the back house."

Cai Hua immediately said: "Okay, we don't need so many people here, Yunong, go stay in your own garden."

Yunong, who had been busy for a long time, was unwilling to hear this and immediately said aggrievedly: "Let Nunu stay too, Nunu is good at acting."

After entering the Sixth Chuihua Gate, Xiao Yi brought Luo Ruji and Wu Gong to the gate. Seeing that Li Zhaodi, who came to pick them up, was already waiting there, Xiao Yi still reminded them, "Lord Luo, Commander Wu, my prince does not easily receive guests in the back house. Even the two old masters Cai and Chen have only come a few times. Both of you are well-educated and polite. Please be careful and do not offend the prince's family members."

As a personal guard battalion commander, Xiao Yi was extremely impolite in speaking to the Minister of War and the Commander-in-Chief in this way.

However, Luo Ruji, who had just escaped from the posthouse, did not show any displeasure. He quickly bowed and said, "I know. I promise I will not walk around or look around randomly. Please rest assured, General."

While speaking, he did not forget to gently pull Wu Gong, who had a gloomy face beside him, and the latter reluctantly clasped his fists towards Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi then snorted from his nose and turned away.

"General Wu, please don't be like this. Our dynasty is deeply involved in the assassination of King Jin. It is only natural that people in the palace have some complaints against us."

On the way to Chen Chu's residence with Li Zhaodi, Luo Ruoji whispered advice.

Wu Gong replied in a low voice: "These accusations are all one-sided statements from Qi!"

Luo Ruji shook his head helplessly and said, "In Commander Wu's opinion, who else in the world is capable of winning over the descendants of the Xu family and raising loyal soldiers?"

This question left Wu Gong speechless. He just sighed and said nothing more.

After walking for a while, the two were led to the main house in the backyard.

"Your Majesty, the two adults have arrived."

Li Zhaodi reported, but a slightly weak female voice, as if she had cried, came from inside the house, "Bring the two adults in."

As soon as Luo and Wu entered the room, they smelled a strong aroma of medicinal soup mixed with a hint of blood.

Knowing that there were women in the room, the two men could not look around and could only focus their attention on Chen Chu who was lying on the bed.

Luo Ruoji had met Chen Chu five or six days ago. Unexpectedly, just a few days later, the King of Chu, who originally had a ruddy complexion, now looked pale and bloodless.

"Prince Jin."

Luo Ruoji called out and was about to go forward, but a slender figure suddenly flashed by. Luo Ruoji looked closely and found that it was Madam Cai who had forced and induced him to get close to Huaibei when he was in Jiangning.

"Hello, Madam." Luo Ruji hurriedly greeted her, but Cai Hua did not look kind to him at all. She said coldly, "The imperial physician has advised that the prince has been suffering from blood loss and weak qi after his serious injury, so he should not see guests to prevent outsiders from bringing in colds and aggravating his injuries."

The situation suddenly became awkward. The people had already entered the house, and they were told that it was inconvenient to see guests. Wasn't this simply driving them away?

At this time, the soft female voice heard through the door said, "Sister Cai, since the official wants to see the two adults, you must not be rude."

Hearing someone speaking for him, Luo Ruoji dared to take a quick look in the direction of the voice, only to see that the woman who spoke had a petite figure and a delicate face, with a pair of red peach blossom eyes with tears in them, as if she had just cried.

If she hadn't called him "Sir", Luo Ruoji would never have guessed that this was the well-known Princess of Chu.

"These two men are officials of the Southern Dynasty. Who knows if they have anything to do with this assassination attempt? It's hard to tell!"

Unexpectedly, Cai Huan didn't even give the princess face.

The atmosphere became increasingly awkward.

This also coincides with the rumors that the daughter of Prime Minister Cai is domineering in the harem.
Fortunately, Chen Chu, who was leaning on the bed sickly, finally said weakly: "Ahem. Both Lords Luo and Wu are upright people. I don't believe that they are also involved in this matter. Sister Huan doesn't need to do this. Someone, please serve tea to the two Lords."

"Thank you, Your Majesty"

Due to the emotional tug-of-war between Cai Huan and Mao'er, Chen Chu's simple request for tea made Luo Ruoji and Wu Gong feel mixed emotions.

The two men sat down, and before Luo Ruji could speak, Chen Chu said weakly, "I have heard about what happened outside. Two years ago, we signed the Lin'an Peace Agreement with your country, hoping to stop the war and stop brothers from killing each other. But unexpectedly, your country would resort to such insidious means. Now public opinion is boiling, and if the war breaks out again in the future, the blame will be on the South, not the North."

After speaking for a long time, Chen Chu's breathing became more and more rapid. Mao'er sat on the bed and carefully helped him to breathe while lowering his head to wipe away his tears. However, Cai Huan looked at the two of them with resentment.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Luo Ruji tried to persuade him: "Your Majesty, this matter is definitely not the intention of His Majesty. Our dynasty will investigate it thoroughly and give Your Majesty an explanation."

Although Luo Ruoji has moved closer to Huaibei, the demise of the Zhou Kingdom would not be in his best interest.

The most favorable situation for him would be to use the power of the Northern Dynasty to remove the last obstacle to his progress, Qin Huizhi, his patron.

"Haha." Chen Chu said, "You are the one who hates me, just like a tarsal abscess. You may not be able to do it. Let us do the surgery for you."

Although he was lacking in energy, his attitude was extremely firm.

Luo Ruoji couldn't help but fall silent.

Unexpectedly, Chen Chu changed the subject and said gently, "No matter what, Lord Luo was once an official of my Tiance Mansion. We have worked together. I will not let you be humiliated for nothing. I have just asked people to find a new residence nearby to temporarily accommodate the Southern Dynasty delegation."

Luo Ruoji certainly didn't dare to go back to the post station, for fear that he would be caught and beaten up by those angry students and common people.

Luo Ruoji was surprised by Chen Chu's kindness, but he did not express his opinion. Instead, he looked at Wu Gong who had remained silent. Wu Gong received the eye signal and after a brief hesitation, he stood up and clasped his fists and said, "King Jin, I have something to ask of you."

"Oh? What's the matter, Commander Wu?"

"Since the assassination of King Jin on the 19th, our troops stationed in the west of the city have been under close surveillance by Commander Zhou's troops. This morning, after the contents of the Seven Stars Notice were transmitted to the West Camp, the soldiers of Commander Zhou's troops treated our troops as enemies and repeatedly provoked us. I had no choice but to strictly restrain my soldiers and not let them leave the camp. But if this continues, the two armies will inevitably clash. I want to lead my troops back to the south ahead of time!"

According to the original plan, the troops would return home after the King of Chu ascended the throne.

But after the assassination attempt, the soldiers of Zhou Liang's army naturally disliked the Zhou army. Moreover, the war between the North and the South was almost inevitable. Asking to return to the South at this time was like letting a tiger return to the mountain!

As expected, as soon as Wu Gong finished speaking, Cai Hua scolded him, "You wish! Are you going to let you go back and fight with our army? Don't even think about leaving!"

Wu Gong seemed to know that he would face this situation. He was silent for two breaths, and suddenly said: "King of Jin, since I followed the army to the north last year, I have never felt so happy! After working together for a year, I admire King of Jin very much. But I am just a warrior and don't understand politics. The right and wrong of the Northern and Southern Dynasties will be judged by the world. But our army was recruited in Jinghu, and we eat in Jinghu. My family and elders are also in Jinghu. I have to go back!"

He said he was a warrior, but his words also implicitly revealed his difficulties. King Jin, you are very kind, but our families are all in Jinghu Road, we can only return home and obey the court.

"If you want to return south, you must have a corpse."

It was Cai Huan who threatened again.

Wu Gong said without any hesitation: "Today, since I have come to the palace alone to request to return south, I have made preparations for not being able to return alive."

As the conversation went on, the atmosphere became cold again.

Luo Ruji wanted to ease the situation, but suddenly he heard the King of Chu, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly say: "General Wu, I remember that you and Zhou Liang cooperated well during the Northern Expedition to Liaodong. When the two armies were fighting for Ningjiang Prefecture, you two made a bet and you lost to him for a drink. Did you buy him the drink?"

"." Wu Gong was stunned. He didn't expect Chen Chu to suddenly mention this. He couldn't help but force out a bitter smile and replied: "The Huaibei Army has strict military discipline. Commander Zhou has always said that we will have this dinner when he is on vacation. I still owe him."

Chen Chu nodded and said unexpectedly: "Well, the soldiers have been on the expedition for more than a year, it is natural for them to miss home, so just go back."

"Your Highness!" Cai Huan looked anxious.

Chen Chu waved his hand to stop her from continuing, but this action aggravated his injury and he couldn't help but frown in pain.

Wu Gong could not help but say subconsciously: "King Jin, please pay attention to your injuries."

"No problem." Chen Chu smiled, looking at the bed curtain above his head, and said slowly: "People say that a clay pot will break if it is kept close to the well, and a general will inevitably die on the battlefield. Warriors like me have put life and death aside since the moment we decided to defend our hometown. But dying on the battlefield is a worthy death, but dying at the hands of an assassin would be cowardly, hahaha. Hiss."

"Sir, please say less." Cat advised sadly.

Wu Gong, who had held his head high since he entered the door, couldn't help but lower his head. He was also born a military man, and when he joined the army in his early years, he had the original intention of defending his hometown.

However, over the years, he had been defeated repeatedly in battles with foreign races, and had been constrained at every turn in his official career. He had gradually learned to blend in with the world, and the ambitions in his heart had long been wiped out.

That's why he just said that the Northern Expedition to Liaodong was the most satisfying thing in his life.

During the Northern Expedition to Liaodong, Chen Chu was unwilling to use the Jin army, which was composed of Liao, Jurchen, Bohai and other ethnic groups.

The Xixia and Huainan armies, composed of the old and weak, were useless.

Picking a general from among the lame, the Jinghu Army became the only helper of the Huaibei Army and fought side by side in more than ten battles.

The glorious experience of avenging the national humiliation and expanding the territory by thousands of miles was gained by following King Jin.

However, this experience card is about to expire.

Wu Gong remained silent. Chen Chu adjusted his breath and continued, "When Commander Wu led his troops to join us, I promised in front of all the generals that the troops would be treated the same as our Huaibei Army. Originally, I wanted to wait until the event was completed in April before giving out rewards, but Commander Wu is going back south first, so tomorrow I will give the post-war rewards to the Jinghu Army first. According to our Huaibei regulations, each soldier will receive ten taels of silver, and the pensions for the dead and the rewards for officers and soldiers will be calculated separately."

Luo Ruoji next to him looked at Chen Chu in astonishment. This time the Jinghu Army is going to send out 20,000 troops, which would cost at least 200,000 silver!

However, considering the amount of compensation paid by the Great Zhou every year and the spoils seized in Liaodong, this little bit of silver is nothing.
At the same time, Luo Ruoji was also very clear that this silver gift was also a means for Chen Chu to win over and divide the Zhou army.

During the Northern Expedition, they had enjoyed the food provided by the Huaibei Army. Now, after the war, they had received the same reward as everyone else. Who could bear to return to Jinghu Road and eat only coarse food?

But even though he knew that this was a means of trickery, Luo Ruoji could not raise any objections. It was a joke. It was a reward from the King of Chu of Qi. If you, a minister of Zhou, spoke out to stop it, and the news got out, you would be hacked to pieces by the Jinghu Army that night.

Being able to serve as a governor along the way, Wu Gong is certainly not a political novice and is well aware of the pros and cons.

Firstly, he had the same concerns as Luo Ruji, and secondly, he really couldn't bear to reject the extra money that his brothers had fought so hard for.
But if he agreed to accept the reward from the King of Jin and return to Jinghu Road in the future, once the two countries went to war again, his situation would be awkward. It is very likely that he would be regarded as evidence of collusion with the King of Chu and private granting of the gift.

After a few moments of thought, Wu Gong gritted his teeth and said, "I will thank King Jin for the reward on behalf of my brothers!"

"This is what the soldiers deserve. Speaking of which, we still owe the Jinghu Army. According to the Tiance Mansion's Merit Book, there are 35 officers and soldiers below Commander Wu who have made military achievements. If we follow the rules of Huaibei, these loyal and brave men should be promoted, granted titles, and their wives and children should be given titles."

At this point, Chen Chu smiled helplessly and said, "I can't give these things to your Jinghu Army, so as not to bring trouble to Commander Wu."

One has to think carefully about accepting the reward of silver from Wu Gong, not to mention the honor bestowed by the King of Chu.

Wu Gong also felt it was a pity, but he said, "Thank you, King Jin, for your understanding."

The matter of returning to the south, which was originally thought to be very difficult, was achieved with the King of Chu's kind and gentle attitude.

Before leaving, Wu Gong even felt a little ashamed. He was ashamed that he was a minister of Zhou and that Zhou had used assassination tactics to murder Chen Chu.

"Commander-in-Chief Wu!"

Luo and Wu retreated to the door and were about to turn around and leave, but suddenly they heard Chen Chu, who was lying on the sickbed, calling them again.

Wu Gong turned around and asked, "What does the King of Jin want?"

Chen Chu smiled and said gently: "Don't forget, you still owe Zhou Liang a meal of wine. If we are destined to meet again in the future, I will pay for this meal!"

Wu Gong, who was over 40 years old, looked at Chen Chu's pale face and suddenly his eyes became hot. He couldn't tell the feeling in his heart when he thought that he might have to fight against such a heroic figure and such a good Shangguan in the future.

But he lifted his front lapel, knelt on one knee, and finally couldn't hold back his words, choking a little, "Your Majesty is the hope of the people, you must take care of yourself!" (End of this chapter)