good season

Chapter 314 Feng Yalan's Dream (Two chapters combined)

Although Xiao Zhen and Zhao Shiqing have been betrothed by imperial decree, the marriage arrangements still need to be discussed and agreed upon by both families.

Xiao Zhen led his troops to suppress the bandits, and Zhao Shiqing completely abandoned her duties. Wan Ruyi would only say one thing: "As long as Qingqing is happy." As for the people sent by the Liang Prince's Mansion, they were just following orders and could not make decisions for their masters.

Therefore, the matter of marriage negotiations fell to Zhen Wuduo and Xiao Fuma, and the wedding date was finally set for the following autumn.

Princess Jiayi and Prince Consort Xiao wished they could complete all the procedures within three months and get married this year, but Zhen Wuduo refused!
How could his precious granddaughter, whom he had gone through so much trouble to find, be so easily taken away by him?
"If Xiao Zhen has deceived me, my granddaughter will be looking for a husband!"

Xiao Fuma could only force a smile, for this old man was not only Zhao Shiqing's maternal grandfather, but also her only blood relative, and he could not afford to offend him.

Ultimately, the wedding day was set for a year later.

Zhao Shiqing didn't ask any questions at all; she was currently preparing for her sister's wedding!

Four months later, Yan Xia will travel to Liang to marry Zhao Yunnuan, the woman he has been longing for.

The new emperor returned to the capital, and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, the Duke of Wei's mansion, and the Earl of Changping's mansion all made great contributions. Their immense wealth and honor made all the nobles envious. The Duke of Dingguo's heir, Deng Tuo, was even more humble and low-key than before. The Earl of Changping only stayed in the capital for a few days before going to the military camp. As for Yan Xia, he was still very busy, too busy to go to the Imperial Academy to draw circles. With the wedding date getting closer and closer, Yan Xia resigned himself to his fate. He was destined to lose face in front of the eldest princess.

Xiao Zhen had just gone to suppress the bandits when Yan Xia also left the capital.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, Zhao Shiqing presented all the information she had gathered, including the thirty-five gyrfalcons she had captured in Tongzhou, among whom Jin Shier had escaped.

Fifty men, all from Northern Yan, came to pick up Yang Shengqiu.

When you see one cockroach in your home, it actually means there's already a whole nest of cockroaches there.

The place Yan Xia is going to is Northern Yan. Hai Dongqing definitely didn't force his way in. There must be a problem on the border of Northern Yan.

This time, time was of the essence. In four months, he had to return to the capital. He would set off from the capital, carrying betrothal gifts, to Liang to welcome his heir apparent's wife.

Just two days before leaving the capital, Zhao Tinglu hosted a banquet. Although he and Zhao Tinglu had met once or twice, they were more than ten years apart in age. Zhao Tinglu hung out with Yan Jiu, and Yan Xia didn't get along with them.

Therefore, he did not plan to attend Zhao Tingluo's banquet.

But Yan Jiu tried to persuade him to go with her, but he refused. Only when Yan Jiu mentioned that his sister-in-law, Zhao Shiqing, would also be going did he agree.

He was gone for three or four months, and couldn't even personally handle the wedding arrangements. He felt guilty, so he took this opportunity to say a few good words and get his sister-in-law to put in a good word for him with the eldest princess.

"What kind of banquet is Zhao Tingluo holding, neither a festival nor a holiday?" Yan Xia asked.

"It's my second uncle's cousin who's back. This cousin has bad luck with her birth chart, so she was sent to the Purple Bamboo Temple when she was little. Now that Xiao Luo has brought her back, there will inevitably be gossip. Xiao Luo specially organized this banquet to let everyone know that his cousin is protected by him and no one can bully her."

Yan Xia vaguely remembered that there was such a thing, that a girl from the Prince of Fu’s mansion was sent to the Purple Bamboo Temple when she was young.

The Prince of Fu's mansion had not yet been divided. Prince Fu had five sons, both legitimate and illegitimate. Apart from the eldest legitimate son who was deposed, the other four were illegitimate.

Zhao Tinglu single-handedly brought down her own father and, at a young age, completely suppressed her four uncles. Although Prince Fu was still alive, everyone in the mansion had to be mindful of Zhao Tinglu's feelings, and her four uncles were especially careful, fearing that if they accidentally offended her, their whole family would be kicked out.

Under these circumstances, Zhao Tingluo wanted to bring her cousin back. Although her second uncle and aunt were unwilling, they dared not say anything.

Although my cousin is the biological daughter of my second uncle and aunt, the family who least wants her to come back are them and their other children.

Back then, if it weren't for Princess Fu stopping her, my cousin would have been killed by her own parents. Although the life at Zizhu Temple was austere, it allowed her to grow up safely.

Zhao Tingluo's cousin was sent to Zizhu Temple at a very young age. She only had a Taoist name and no secular name.

Zhao Tingluo pleaded with the retired emperor to change his cousin's name to Zhao Jinghua.

Because of this name, her birth mother and two younger sisters were furious, feeling that Zhao Tingluo was too biased, ignoring her younger sister who had grown up with her, but treating this cousin whom she had never met differently.

Even Prince Fu couldn't understand why his grandson, who never gets up early without a reason, would treat Zhao Jinghua so well.

They never dreamed that treating Zhao Jinghua well was Zhao Tingluo's promise to Zhao Shiqing.

Just as the banquet was halfway through, the imperial edict arrived.

Zhao Jinghua was granted the title of Princess of Xiajiang County, becoming the third person in the Prince Fu's mansion, besides the Prince Fu and his wife, to receive a title, making many people extremely envious.

Although Zhao Jinghua's father was born out of wedlock, Zhao Jinghua was the eldest granddaughter of Prince Fu, so it was only right that she was granted the title of county princess. In addition to the title, the new emperor also bestowed upon her a mansion.

This time, the Prince of Fu's mansion did a good job, but the Prince of Fu did not expect that his credit would be given to this granddaughter whom he himself did not even remember.

Yan Xia wasn't familiar with the people from the Prince of Fu's mansion and originally intended to just show his face and leave, but Zhao Tinglu called him back.

"Brother Yan, my cousin has a close friend who wants to talk to you for a few minutes. Would you do me the honor?"

Yan Xia was taken aback. Zhao Jinghua's close friend was a woman. He was engaged, and he didn't want to, nor dared to, speak to a woman alone.

"Xiao Luo, it's me."

Zhao Tingluo: "My sister is here too."

"Your sister? The county princess?" Yan Xia asked, puzzled.

Zhao Tingluo: "Your sister-in-law."

Yanxia was relieved; with her sister-in-law present, everything was fine.

Yan Xia never expected that Zhao Jinghua's close friend was actually Feng Yalan!

The Emperor Emeritus was merciful. Although the Feng family's property was confiscated, only the male members who were thirteen years of age or older were exiled to the border. The female members were simply moved out of the mansion and were not implicated.

Feng Yalan and Zhao Jinghua were picked up from Zizhu Temple by Zhao Tingluo.

She went to Zizhu Temple voluntarily. Before leaving, she used her aunt's and her own private savings to set up an embroidery shop. While she was at Zizhu Temple, she handed the shop over to her four maids to manage.

At the time, she never thought she would leave Zizhu Temple one day. This embroidery shop was her way out for her aunt, who was old and faded and had no children. This embroidery shop could provide for her in her old age.

After the Feng family's property was confiscated, the women were left with nothing. Although their married daughters helped them out, it was only enough for their daily needs. Apart from the essential servants, all the maids and servants were either sold or dismissed.

Therefore, when Feng Yalan's maid went to the Feng family to fetch her, Old Madam Feng did not ask any questions and wrote a letter of release for Feng Ke, freeing his concubine.

With one less person, there is one less burden.

Now, Feng Yalan and her daughter live in the embroidery workshop, leading a peaceful life.

Today, Zhao Jinghua invited her to a banquet at the Prince Fu's mansion. She didn't want to come at first, but after thinking about it, she came anyway.

She didn't want to tell anyone about her experiences with Yang Shengqiu in her dream, but she didn't want to hide the part that concerned the fate of the nation.

At the banquet today, upon learning that Yan Xia was going to Northern Yan, she decided to tell him about her dream. However, she only told him that she dreamt of the Northern Yan crown prince opening the country's gates and letting the Dalu people in, with the Dalu cavalry fighting their way to the capital. As for the Northern Yan king being killed by the emperor, she didn't dare to mention it.

The emperor in the dream was the third prince, who was the son-in-law of the Feng family, and she was a woman of the Feng family.

"The Crown Prince of Northern Yan? Han Tai? He's still a hostage in the capital!"

Just yesterday, Yan Xia had seen Han Tai and his companion Yue Xiu at the Imperial College. Because of the Nie brothers' incident back then, Han Tai and his companions were very grateful to Yan Xia, and they would greet him whenever they saw him from afar.

Feng Yalan paused for a moment, then shook her head: "That's not his name, I think it's Han Song."

"You mean Han Song? The Song from Mount Song?" Zhao Shiqing asked.

She knew Han Song. He was the third son of the King of Northern Yan and the younger brother of the Crown Prince of Northern Yan. The King of Northern Yan had seven or eight sons, of whom only Han Tai and Han Song were born of the principal wife, while the others were born of concubines.

When the old King of Liang passed away, Han Song and Prince Hejin went to Liang to pay their respects.

Feng Yalan said, "I don't know which character 'Song' it was. I only remember hearing the old woman talking about things outside in my dream."

In her past life, she was a widow who never left her house. Her understanding of the outside world came entirely from the old woman who went out to buy groceries.

Zhao Shiqing never expected that, besides Xiao Zhen, there was another person in the world who also knew about her past life.

Before Yan Xia arrived, Feng Yalan had told her about this dream, and Feng Yalan's dream matched Xiao Zhen's past life. However, Xiao Zhen died early and did not know what happened afterward.

It turned out that not only had Yang Shengqiu returned, but the Dalu people had also attacked the capital.

Zhao Shiqing no longer had any doubts, and that's when she decided to tell Yan Xia about it.

Yan Xia didn't believe it at first, but Han Song had never been to the capital before. Even he only learned about this person when he was learning about the Northern Yan Prince's Mansion before deciding to go to Northern Yan.

Feng Yalan was a lady from a prominent family. Her background was obvious. She lived either in a grand mansion or at the Zizhu Temple. If she didn't actually dream about him, how would she have known about Han Song?

Zhao Shiqing said, "Brother-in-law, you may not believe it, but after you arrive in Northern Yan, you must investigate that Han Song. Sister Feng dreamed that he became the heir apparent, which is not entirely impossible. Han Tai has been a hostage in the capital, and Han Song has an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

Yan Xia nodded. Zhao Shiqing was absolutely right. Regardless of whether the dream was true or false, he would investigate Han Song.

With so many sons of the King of Northern Yan, Yan Xia would never have paid attention to Han Song if it weren't for Feng Yalan's dream.

After the banquet, Zhao Shiqing returned to Tianshui Hutong, resting her chin on her hand and staring blankly into space.

Zhen Wuduo leaned closer and asked, "My dear granddaughter, what are you thinking about?"

If the eldest granddaughter is thinking about that pig Xiao Zhen, then the amount of silver in the treasury will be reduced by ten thousand taels.

Zhao Shiqing looked around seriously. Apart from Xiao Yao, there was no one else, and Da Pang was not there either.

“Grandpa, there’s something I didn’t report about Hai Dongqing. I deliberately let Jin Shier go because I wanted him to take Yang Shengqiu away.”

Zhen Wuduo was very satisfied and added 10,000 taels to the dowry money for his eldest granddaughter.

“I thought it was a big deal. It’s just that it wasn’t reported. But why did you let Yang Shengqiu go? That ungrateful bastard should have been killed long ago.”

Zhao Shiqing shook her head: "In any case, my eyes were cured by Dr. Yang, so I will not let Yang Shengqiu die by my hand."

She stretched out her small hand; Princess Nanyang's ten fingers had never touched a drop of water.

"I originally thought that the gyrfalcon was already a thorn in the side of the Dalu King, and that Yang Shengqiu would either die on the way or at the hands of the Dalu King. But today I met Feng Yalan, and she dreamed about her past life. It turns out that Yang Shengqiu later returned home in glory. Alas, I regret it. Have I just helped him achieve his goal?"

Grandpa, Xiao Zhen had a past life, Feng Yalan had a past life, but I didn't. Grandpa, I want a past life too.

Zhen Wuduo's chubby face twitched. In his previous life, this was something that money couldn't buy.

"We don't want that stuff. Only those who die with their eyes open will remember their past lives."

As for Yang Shengqiu, the fact that he was able to return home in glory shows that he was doing very well in Dalu.

What does it mean that a Han Chinese was highly valued by the Tartars?
This proves he was a traitor!

What good end can a traitor possibly have?

The fact that Dalu Wang could deal with the gyrfalcon that served him so well is enough to prove that he was not a good person. He would not only discard someone after they had served their purpose, but would become more and more adept at it.

Yang Shengqiu was a Han Chinese, and a Han Chinese with royal blood. To the Dalu King, this person was not of his kind and could not be used for long.

Don't worry, Yang Shengqiu definitely didn't have a good ending in his past life. Perhaps he died even more tragically than Feng Yalan.

Zhao Shiqing thought about it and realized it made sense. Oh, her good grandfather was truly a comforting presence!

Zhao Shiqing felt relieved and stopped worrying about the matter. She devoted all her energy to preparing for her sister's wedding. She ate at the Duke of Wei's mansion for eight out of ten days. Madam Yu liked her very much. If it weren't for the fact that the two families were related by marriage and that she had the connection with Princess Jiabao, she might have already recognized Zhao Shiqing as her goddaughter.

Grand Princess Jiayi wants to get closer to her future daughter-in-law and even tries to steal her away from Madam Yu.

The two women disliked each other from the start, and now that they met, they engaged in a war of words. Several times, Madam Yu wanted to take action, but she held back for Zhao Shiqing's sake.

After finally getting everything ready, Zhao Shiqing stopped going to the Duke of Wei's mansion and returned to her comfortable life of accompanying the old man to walk the birds, watch plays, and listen to storytelling.

Unexpectedly, on this day, just as she was about to go out, Xia Dachuan stopped her.

"Second Miss, no, Princess, could you please wait a while before going out? I have something to attend to."

Seeing his hesitant and awkward manner, Zhao Shiqing knew what he was going to say.

Little brat, there's nothing in this family that she doesn't know. Ah Huang has been gossiping about Xia Dachuan and Xiuxiu a lot. Of all the people in the family, only Shi Congcong and Xiao Ye haven't figured out Xia Dachuan's little schemes.

After all, these two are the dumbest.

"Go ahead and say it here. I'm in a hurry to listen to the audiobook."

That's the truth. Yesterday, when she heard the crucial moment followed by a "to be continued" ending, she was so anxious that she couldn't sleep all night.

"Could we go somewhere else? There are too many people and too much chatter here."

"If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. Xiuxiu is skilled, and her godmother likes her. I'm going to submit a memorial to the emperor to help her get a position as a female official, so she can stay by her godmother's side in the future."

Xia Dachuan was dumbfounded.

Even the female officials serving Princess Jiabao belonged to the inner palace and were people within the palace.

Even if a female official of the Great Yong Dynasty were released from the palace, she would still be someone a lowly guard like him could never hope to be worthy of.