After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 1108 New Yard

Peng Yuqi's plan to leave Beijing actually has something to do with the Zhou family.

The Duke of Zhenguo was seriously ill, and his eldest son, General Zhou, wrote to the new emperor, requesting that his brothers stationed outside be summoned home to take care of his father. He also revealed that the Zhou family intended to give up some vacancies in the border army. Even if the new emperor wanted to retain the Duke of Zhenguo's sons, it was impossible for him to send all of them back to fulfill their filial duties for the Duke of Zhenguo. In this way, the border army would need to supplement several high-ranking generals.

This is also the best opportunity for the court's military generals to take control of the northwestern border army.

Originally, Tu Rong was the best candidate chosen by the late emperor to take over the military power of the Northwest Frontier Army. Unfortunately, when the late emperor was seriously ill, in order to ensure a smooth transition of the throne, he was specially recalled to the capital to take charge of the 26 guards of the Shangzhi Qinjun with the Marquis of Yingchuan and General Zhou Si, so as to prevent any problems in the succession ceremony of the crown prince. Tu Rong had no choice but to abandon the military affairs of the Shaanxi Dusi that he had just sorted out and return to the capital. Now that the situation in the capital has stabilized, it seems that the royal family can send out their trusted generals to continue the plan that the late emperor failed to complete. It is better not to put all the power of the Northwest Frontier Army in the hands of the Zhou family, and the court must also have a say.

However, Tu Rong is now in charge of the imperial guards, and Yingchuan Hou holds the military power of the Shangzhi personal army outside the capital. The two of them work together, cooperate with each other, and check and balance each other, and they are living in peace. If any one of them is sent to the northwest at this time, it may have a negative impact on the situation in the capital that has just stabilized.

The new emperor couldn't send General Zhou Si away. General Zhou Si was originally a member of the Zhou family. He came to Beijing to escort the new emperor's succession to the throne and also as a hostage. If he was sent back to the northwest at this time, what would be the meaning of everything the late emperor had done before?

Under such circumstances, the Marquis of Yingchuan decided to send his eldest son to the northwestern border city for training. The Marquis of Yingchuan's son had trained in Shanxi for several years and was already able to take charge of his own affairs. Even if he could not command a large army, he was still competent as a commander stationed in one place. If he could make some military achievements in the border areas and return to Beijing in the future, his future would surely be brighter.

Furthermore, due to the fire at Sun's house and the fact that the granddaughter had come to Yingchuan Marquis's Mansion to ask for an audience with the prince before setting the fire, but was turned away, there were many rumors outside. Yingchuan Marquis's Mansion can only close its doors to visitors now, but it is not a long-term solution after all. After the annual leave, the prince will have to go back to perform his military duties. He will have to deal with people every day, so how can he avoid other people's gossip? It would be better for him to take this opportunity to go to the border to hide for two years. When he returns to the capital in two or three years, who will still remember the current rumors?

The Yingchuan Marquis and his wife reluctantly asked for a new position for their eldest son. The news has not spread yet, but Peng Yuqi, as a daughter of a general from the Northwest who was born in the frontier, must follow her husband to take up the post. She also shoulders the heavy responsibility of introducing her husband to her family and helping him quickly gain a foothold in the border town. While packing her luggage with her family, she sent a letter to her good friend Zhou Wenjun, apologizing to her friend for having to break the appointment, and also wanting to get the help of the Zhou family to help her husband open up the situation in the northwest as soon as possible.

Zhou Wenjun has promised to write to her family to help the prince of Yingchuan adapt to life in the border town as soon as possible. However, she also believes that Peng Yuqi grew up in Ganzhou, and even without her help, she will help her husband adapt to life in the border town quickly. It's just that she has just arrived in Beijing, and she will have to stay with her husband for a long time. The good friend who just reunited will follow her husband back to the northwest. The two sisters are destined to be apart more often than together, which is really a pity.

Haitang was very sad when she heard this, but she soon cheered up and said to Zhou Wenjun with a smile: "Don't worry, Sister Wenjun. The family of the Marquis of Yingchuan is in the capital. He is just going to the border town to gain experience for a few years and avoid the limelight. He will be back in a few years. By then, his future is promising, and Sister Peng will also rise with him. Sister Wenjun has been in the capital, so are you afraid that you will not see her again?" Zhou Wenjun smiled: "Of course, we will meet again. It's just that I feel a little sad when I think that we have just met and will be separated for several years."

Then she looked at Zhou Xuejun and said, "But this is inevitable. Daughters like us who come from military families always have to live with our husbands after marriage. Even if we get along very well with our friends at home, we will always be separated after marriage. This is our fate. Fortunately, sister Xuejun doesn't have to suffer this pain. When you marry into the palace in the future, I can send a sign to ask for a meeting whenever I miss you."

Zhou Xuejun wanted to say something but stopped herself in the end. She just held her cousin's hand and smiled.

As a lady from outside the imperial court, Zhou Wenjun could indeed present a sign to ask for an audience with the empress, but there were many inconveniences in and out of the palace, and it was nothing compared to the sisters getting married, visiting relatives and then getting together. But at least the two sisters were in the capital, and it was much more convenient to meet than Zhou Wenjun and Peng Yuqi being thousands of miles apart in the future. Therefore, Zhou Xuejun would not reject Zhou Wenjun's words. If she wanted to meet her sister from her natal family, there was always a way.

They chatted for a while, and then Zhou Xuejun took her sisters and best friends to visit her new yard. Haitang and others followed her with great interest.

The banquet for the ladies was held in the main courtyard near the garden. There was a passage on the side of the main courtyard that led directly to the garden. Zhou Xuejun's new courtyard was right next to the garden and was very spacious and exquisite. She could see the beautiful scenery of the garden from the window and walk a few steps to the lush flowers and trees in the garden. She liked it very much when she saw it and was eager to share this joy with her sisters.

Haitang and Wu Qiong walked around the courtyard together, both of them were full of praise. Wu Qiong said enviously: "This garden is obviously well taken care of, and it is not much worse than the scenery in the Cining Palace. It's a pity that our house has been in disrepair for a long time. The courtyard that my cousin arranged for me is not far from the garden, but the houses in the garden are dilapidated, and the flowers and trees are scattered. I don't know how much effort it will take to tidy it up. I am afraid that I will not be lucky enough to live at home until the day when the garden is rebuilt. I only hope that the garden of Prince Kang's Mansion will have a good view, so that I can have a taste of living next to the garden in the future."

Haitang smiled and said to her, "If you don't have a big garden, a small garden is also good. I have a small yard at home, and I put potted flowers and trees outside the window. When spring comes and flowers bloom, I can see the beautiful scenery by opening the window. It's not bad."

Wu Qiong couldn't help but feel a little moved when she heard this. She couldn't decide the progress of the garden reconstruction project at home, and she knew that was not the point, but if she just put a few pots of flowers outside the window of her room and pretended that she lived in the garden, it would not be a difficult task. Not to mention in her own home, even if it was the guest house of Cheng'en Marquis Mansion where she was currently staying, or the room in Cining Palace, this thing could be done!

Wu Qiong pulled Haitang over and asked quietly about what flowers were suitable for potted plants at this time of year. While Haitang was giving her suggestions in a low voice, Zhou Wenjun had already walked around the yard. He came back and asked his cousin Zhou Xuejun with a puzzled look on his face: "Your yard gate is connected to the garden with a moon-shaped gate to the north. The big yard behind the main yard is decorated very neatly and elegantly. It is not much worse than the main yard of the Duke's Mansion. It looks like it can be moved in at any time. Who is that yard prepared for? Fourth uncle and fourth aunt will not leave the main yard and move to the backyard, right?"