Shengshichun

Chapter 387 I Care About My Family

The evening mist thickened and the wind and clouds subsided.

Liang Zhi and his men finally completed the handover with the Ministry of War and the Dali Temple, and entered the Pei Mansion hand in hand.

The banquet hall is located in Qiu Shui Zhai in the back garden, which is quite far away from other places and has a separate kitchen. It is obvious that this place is designed for everyone to have a good drink.

Yang Yi was a little late, but only a few steps behind. When he entered the garden, the servants had just brought him the tea.

Liang Chen looked around: "Where is Lao Wu and his wife?"

Pei Yu and Madam Pei, who were busy serving the dishes, looked towards the garden gate at the same time: "That's right, hasn't that kid been home for more than an hour? Where has he been? Someone, go and invite them over."

The servants were passing the flowers and willows, and when they arrived at Pei Zhan's courtyard, Zi Yan was sending the maids to carry out water.

The servant approached him and asked, "General, have you just finished bathing?"

Zi Yan wanted to say something but stopped herself. Finally, she pursed her lips and nodded, and waved to send him away: "The general and the young lady have some urgent matters to deal with, so they came here. Please ask the master and the lady to treat the generals to dinner first." After that, she returned to the house and walked towards Fu Zhen who came out with long hair: "Young lady, I'm sorry, it's not impossible for me to ask for leave from the lady."

Fu Zhen pulled down his collar and looked at his shoulders in the mirror. He couldn't help biting his lower lip and two blushes appeared on his cheeks.

She had gained a lot of weight in the past six months, and it was not an exaggeration to say that she had a skin as thin as ice and jade. The red marks on her fair skin were particularly clear. She really underestimated that guy. She had been mentally prepared for his physique, but she didn't expect that he would be even more ferocious than she imagined in bed.

"Does it hurt?" As she was looking at it, the troublemaker came over, and when he saw her shoulder, he immediately stroked it tenderly. His calloused fingertips lightly scratched her skin, and the tingling sensation came back. Fu Zhen tilted her head slightly: "Now I believe that you really had never had sex before we got married."

Pei Zhan stopped, and his dark face instantly turned red. He opened his mouth and bit her earlobe as punishment: "How did you know?"

Fu Zhen leaned back against him and looked at the two overlapping figures in the mirror: "In the old days, the street books said that only those young and inexperienced people would wolf down food."

Pei Zhan heard this and applied the ointment to her, then tidied her clothes: "That's hard to say. The first time I met you and the hundredth time are no different. - Come on, I'll help you change your clothes..."

……

The servant brought Zi Yan's words to Pei Yu, who felt it was outrageous. Pei Zhan and Fu Zhen were important masters of the Pei family, so how could they refuse? It was too neglectful.

He wanted to call Pei Mu to urge them, but Mrs. Pei tugged at his sleeve secretly, and he dared not say anything.

After sitting down, he saw Cheng Zhili and the others covering their mouths and laughing secretly, feeling puzzled. Until he heard Mrs. Pei say that they would not be waiting for them and everyone should take their seats first, and then she said that her daughter-in-law had caught a cold these two days and was feeling unwell, so she would not let him come. Only then did he react and secretly cursed Pei Zhan twice. At least he recovered his composure and sat in the main seat as if nothing had happened, and prepared the banquet.

Pei Zhan and Fu Zhen arrived late.

Before going out, Fu Zhen looked left and right in the mirror until he was sure that there was nothing wrong with his manners. Only then did he go out with Pei Zhan.

Pei Zhan told her to stay in the room and not go out for social events. But Fu Zhen wanted to see Yang Yi. Besides, Liang Zhi had just returned, so how could she, as their aunt, not be absent from the welcoming wine she had prepared for them?
The two men talked as they walked to Qiu Shui Zhai. The dishes had not yet been served and everyone had just sat down around the table.

Seeing the two of them, everyone smiled, but didn't say anything, and no one made fun of them. The young couple had been married for so long, and suddenly they were separated for such a long time, so it was natural for them to have some personal things to say, and there was nothing strange about that.

Fu Zhen and Pei Zhan were very calm and composed, and no one could guess what had happened between them. After they sat down at two tables, the banquet began.

Su Xing'er stared at Fu Zhen intently, and then when Madam Pei wasn't paying attention, she poked her waist with her elbow: "A short separation is better than a new marriage, right?"

Fu Zhen pretended to be calm: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"You little brat, you still want to lie to me. Look at your eyes. You haven't paid any attention to Lao Wu since you came in. You didn't come over for a long time. Where have you been?"

Fu Zhen cleared his throat and sat up straight: "What can I do? Help him pack his luggage."

"You're packing and you can't get out?"

“Then we chatted for a while.”

"Still pretending." Su Xing'er snorted, "I can already smell the fragrance of the bruise-relieving ointment on your body."

Fu Zhen blushed. He glanced at the table behind the beaded curtain and lowered his voice: "You know you are still yelling here, do you want everyone to know that I am committing adultery in broad daylight?"

Su Xing'er giggled and leaned forward: "I just want to know, have you used all the tricks in the storybooks you read?"

Fu Zhen patted her arm.

After taking a sip of tea, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted up again, and she said slowly: "Why are you in such a hurry? I will try all the tricks one by one."

Su Xing'er silently made a gesture of admiration for her and then sat down.

"What are you two talking about?" Mrs. Pei had already walked back.

The two of them regained their dignified expressions and started chatting with Mrs. Pei about family matters.

Just as they were talking about Su Xing'er's mother-in-law, Madam Feng, planning to stay at Baihe Temple with Madam Cao and chant sutras to pray for blessings, they heard Cheng Zhili's high-pitched voice coming from the next table:
"Why? There are plenty of people in the court to handle these things, why do you have to go there?"

Fu Zhen turned his head and saw that everyone's eyes were focused on Yang Yi.

After listening to Cheng Zhili's words, Yang Yi said: "Dongzi played a huge role in successfully and quickly taking down Lian Yang and the 100,000 rebels.

“Although the incident was caused by them, and if the 100,000 rebels succeed, Dongzi will suffer the most damage, but in the end, Jin Xu still gave us the great Zhou great trust.

“In other words, it gave me, Yang Yi, a lot of trust.

"When we were encircling Wu Chengping and his men, Jin Xu never showed up. Instead, he ordered his generals to contact me. I guess something happened to him.

“Sure enough, after the battle, I asked the generals of Dongzi, and they said that Jinxu had been ill for a month or two.

"I have to go see him. Of course, I will also return the tiger talisman I found from Wu Chengping and his men to Jin Xu."

Everyone looked at each other.

Fu Zhen even forgot to put down his chopsticks for a moment. Now the whole capital city is buzzing with rumors that the imperial power in the palace can no longer be sustained. Moreover, now that foreign affairs have been settled, it is indeed time to stabilize the internal affairs. However, Yang Yi said that he wanted to go to Dongzi. What should be done in the capital city?
There was a brief silence in the banquet hall.

Pei Yu was used to the ups and downs, so he quickly took over the conversation. "Those two tiger talismans belong to Dong Zi, and they should be properly returned to Jin Xu.

“However, since this war involves a joint effort between Great Zhou, Dayue and Dongzi, it is a matter between the three countries.

“It would be better if the court could discuss in detail how to handle this matter and how to send it back.

“This is also a good opportunity. Before this, our relationship with Dongzi had been severed. By returning the tiger talisman, we can further establish our friendship.

"Now, the three of us are tired of war and don't want to fight anymore. If we can keep it safe for 20 to 30 years, it will be a blessing."

Liang Chen agreed: "Uncle Pei's words make sense. There is no rush for this matter. General Gao is in the northwest to contact Dongzi. I don't think Jin Xu will be in a hurry. After all, it's useless for us to hold their tiger talisman."

Yang Yi didn't say anything, just casually turning the wine glass in his hand.

Liang Zhi raised his glass to smooth things over: "I just came back from the northwest. Even if you want to go, you should rest for a while, right?
"Come, let's drink this cup first. We won't stop drinking until we are drunk today. If Your Highness has nothing to do in the next few days, why don't we accompany Your Highness to the Jingji camp to ride horses and practice archery?"

Yang Yi drank a glass with him, and then said: "Just call me Yang Yi. I'm grateful for your respect. You can call me Mr.

"Your Highness, there's no need to address me as such. I'm just a commoner, and it would be awkward to address me as such. If you guys are not shy, we can talk about seniority."

Liang Zhi couldn't hold back when he heard this.

"As long as you wish, you can become a true prince at any time."

Yang Yi smiled and shook his head, putting the cup down. "With such a beautiful scenery, why don't we drink to our heart's content?
"It's really boring to always talk about state affairs. I'm not familiar with the capital. Do you have any delicious food or fun things to do, or any interesting stories? Why don't you bring them to the table and tell me about them?"

Fu Zhen withdrew his gaze and frowned deeply.

Although she has not obtained evidence to prove that the current chaos in the capital is the emperor's conspiracy, public opinion has pushed it to this point, and there must be a conclusion no matter what.

After learning about Yang Yi's hardships over the years and then learning the truth about Huzhou from the Queen, Fu Zhen understood Yang Yi's choice very well. He also fully understood his feelings of resisting the Emperor.

But private affairs are private affairs, and state affairs are state affairs.

In any case, he is the only prince of the Empress and he is also a citizen of the Great Zhou. Can this storm be calmed down perfectly? And how to calm it down? Yang Yi can't stay out of it at least.

She became absent-minded for the rest of the time.

I sat with Su Xing'er behind the pearl curtain until they had several rounds of drinks. Finally, when the moon was setting in the west, they got up and left the party.

Fu Zhen went up to see the guests off. After she came to Yang Yi's side without leaving a trace, she stopped and said, "Brother Yang, I want to talk to you for a few words."

As she spoke, she pointed to the side.

Yang Yi paused and followed her.

Under the bright stone lantern, Fu Zhen looked at him and said, "Brother Yang, the court does need a suitable candidate to inherit the throne, and it also needs an eldest prince like you who is capable, persuasive and has a high status to shoulder the responsibility of reviving the Great Zhou. I know it is not easy for you, but I wonder if you can stay with us for the sake of the people of the Great Zhou and do your best to deal with this storm?"

In the night, Yang Yi's eyes were dim: "If you had regarded the eldest prince of the emperor twenty-four years ago as dead, you wouldn't have these troubles."

"But after all, you didn't. God is sympathizing with the Great Zhou and the people of the world who have suffered so much. That's why he allowed you to return to us. We can't just pretend you don't exist."

Yang Yi took a deep breath and walked to the railing. "This is something that the masters in the court should be concerned about. You are not in good health, why worry about this?"

"But I also have my family and my relatives behind me!" Fu Zhen looked at his back, "When the nest is destroyed, how can the eggs remain intact? The Great Zhou does not have a legitimate person to inherit the throne, or if such a person is chosen reluctantly, sooner or later he will not be able to suppress the meritorious officials and generals in the court.

"We have all read history books and know that the principle of servants bullying their masters in the harem can also be applied to the court. Once the monarch is weak and the ministers are strong, the underworld will surely arise.

"It is a misfortune for the world that a weak and illegitimate person holds the world's total power. Even if he does not do evil, there will be people who use him to do evil.

"Whether it's our Pei family or the Ning family, they are both well-known families in the Great Zhou. Once the political situation becomes unstable, it will definitely affect me. How can I not worry and be concerned?"

Yang Yi was speechless for a moment.

Fu Zhen walked forward and leaned against the railing and said to him, "This is just us. It's even more dangerous for you, Brother Yang."

"You are the most deserving person in the world to be the emperor. We all believe that you have no desire for the imperial power, but will the person who sits on the throne believe you?

“Will he feel at ease?

"How will he treat you then?"

Yang Yi paused, and his broad back suddenly stiffened.

Fu Zhen looked ahead and continued, "If you say you are not afraid, you have a clear conscience, but don't you care about He Zhao and Chen Song?

"He Zhao already has a wife and children. If you, Brother Yang, are in trouble, will you ask them to choose you or their family?"

Yang Yi became a silent black tower in the night.

"So you want to persuade me to compromise and enter the palace?" After a long while, he turned around and spoke each word more slowly than the last. "Even you want to persuade me."

"I don't want to force you, I just don't want you to regret it in the future, Brother Yang."

Fu Zhen straightened up and looked back fearlessly: "If you are really a cold and heartless person, that's fine. But you are willing to expose yourself in order to eliminate the crisis for the Great Zhou.

"You are obviously a kind-hearted person. You care about the world and the people in your heart. This is because you have been exposed to war since you were a child.

"If your insistence on retreating today causes a lot of trouble in the future, I guarantee that you will never forgive yourself.

"Instead of having to endure the pain of being a thorn in someone else's eyes in the future, why don't you stop becoming that thorn from now on?"