si-mexico Chapter 161 Why don’t we have one too?
Chapter 161 Why don’t we have one too?
In early February, Jing Qishan, Jiang Li, He Yongyuan and others were summoned individually by the old emperor. Because they were going back to the southwest, the old emperor wanted to give them a practice and encourage them so that they could guard the southwest with peace of mind and prevent the Xiling army from committing again.
The old emperor is sixty years old this year and has few surviving children. There are different opinions in the capital about the subsequent succession of the throne. Some say that it will be passed on to the eldest prince, some say it will be passed on to the second prince, and some say it may have to wait until the four-year-old third prince grows up.
The old emperor arranged a fine banquet for them. The wine was aged wine specially brewed by the palace, and there were more than a hundred dishes.
The old emperor did not eat at the same table with them. Each time the dishes were served, they were divided into small plates. Before the previous small plate was finished, the next one would be served, and the uneaten ones would be taken away.
Jiang Li and He Yongyuan accepted such treatment with great trepidation. Only Jing Qishan remained calm. Faced with a variety of exquisite dishes, he knew which part to eat first.
For example, eating seafood.
He Yongwu and Jiang Li both came from poor backgrounds and had been stationed in the southwest. They had never eaten seafood before, so they didn't know how to eat the sea urchins. They just followed Jing Qishan's example and ate the food the same way.
The old emperor also realized that Jing Qishan was the backbone of these people.
"General Jing, although I have sent you to garrison the southwest this time, I may order you to return to the capital at any time in the future. You don't mind running back and forth, right?"
Jing Qishan said: "It is my honor."
The old emperor sighed and said, "I am old, but the princes have not grown up. Otherwise, I would go to the southwest with you to see the mountains and rivers there. I heard that the mountains and rivers there are very beautiful, especially the waterfalls."
This sentence is a trap. At this time, you cannot mention anything related to the establishment of a crown prince, otherwise you will commit a big taboo.
Jing Qishan said: "Your Majesty has a strong dragon body and does not look old at all. If you can exercise diligently, you will live to be a hundred years old!"
The old emperor laughed and said, "Lord Jing is really good at talking."
"Your Majesty, you are too kind!"
But the old emperor still threw another trap: "Then what do you think, if I can't live to be a hundred years old, which of these sons should I focus on supporting?"
The three of them were stunned when they heard this.
Jing Qishan quickly took the lead and knelt down, followed by He Yongyuan and Jiang Li.
Jing Qishan said: "I only know how to fight wars, but I don't know anything about the succession, and I don't know much about the princes."
He Yongyuan and Jiang Lidao: "So do I!"
The old emperor then said with satisfaction: "My dear ministers, please stand up. I am just asking casually and have no other intention."
Jing Qishan knew that the old emperor was reminding them, so he explained, "Thanks to the kindness of His Majesty, the three of us have attracted much attention in the capital during this period. Our colleagues all wanted to get to know us, so they invited us to drink, but they did not mention it in the court, and it was all just idle talk."
The old emperor smiled and said, "It is normal for colleagues to eat together. You don't have to worry. Keep eating. Keep eating."
The three of them then returned to their respective tables to eat.
Jiang Li and He Yongyuan only felt sweat on their foreheads.
It is true that living with the king is like living with a tiger.
……
After coming out of the palace, Jing Qishan and others set off for the southwest.
Although there were few people and horses returning to Beijing, the number of people going to the southwest was dozens of times more. Servants from each family went with them, and the carriages were larger and more spacious, pulled by two horses.
At first, Li Yujiao rode in the same carriage with He Yongyuan's wife.
After being awarded the mansion, He Yongyuan wrote a letter of divorce and returned home that same day, asking his wife to come to Beijing immediately.
His wife's surname is Mi, her name is Mi Xiuxiu, she is about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, and they have two children, a boy and a girl. The boy is named Xiao Facai and the girl is named Xiao Gongxi.
Mi Xiuxiu complained to Li Yujiao: "He said he would take me to the capital to enjoy a big house, but I left after the Lantern Festival and was on the road for more than half a month. I have only been here for less than four days and I have to go to the southwest with him again. Now I have to be on the road for another half a month. Do you think this is a blessing?"
Li Yujiao was amused and laughed, "Then I am a little better than you. I have lived in the capital for more than half a month."
Mi Xiuxiu said quickly: "Isn't this just the case of the pot calling the kettle black? Half a month versus a few days, how many days can be more?"
"That's true!" Li Yujiao continued to laugh: "Then we are all miserable people!"
Mi Xiuxiu said: "I have never been to the southwest. My husband has been persuading me to go a few years ago. I have no problem with that, but I have two children. It is so hard and dangerous over there. What if they die? Wouldn't their He family be extinct?
Now, I have to go even if I don’t want to. Otherwise, if I go to Beijing for a few days and then go back to the He family, the He family’s relatives will definitely laugh at me: Why don’t you live in Beijing? Didn’t you say you were going to Beijing to enjoy life? I don’t have the face to do that.”
Li Yujiao was amused by the exaggerated way she spoke.
Mi Xiuxiu kept shaking her head, "Now that things have come to this, I'll just follow along and leave it to fate."
Li Yujiao said: "The southwest is actually not that bad. Believe me, it will be fine."
"Oh!" Mi Xiuxiu sighed.
Mi Xiuxiu's two children, Xiao Gongxi and Xiao Facai, were very excited along the way. They were curious about everything they saw and would come down to play during breaks.
Li Yujiao also played with them, folding branches into a small house to play hopscotch, throwing stones into the river to see how long the stones could float on the water, and using torches to roast buns and eggs for them.
The two children, one five and one four years old, were at an age of curiosity. Li Yujiao coaxed them, "Auntie has a bread oven at home. It can make delicious bread and roast chicken. When you get to the southwest, Auntie will make it for you."
Xiao Gongxi and Xiao Fa Cai both applauded and were very much looking forward to it.
Resting at the post station at night, Jing Qishan hugged Li Yujiao and said, "My dear, I saw you and Lao He's two children playing well together during the day. I believe you like children. Why don't we have one too?"
Li Yujiao's body stiffened.
Have a baby?
What she thought of was the scene of her becoming an abandoned wife with her children after Jing Qishan fell in love with Dong Qiqi.
It’s so sad just thinking about it!
"I'm not ready yet." Li Yujiao said.
Jing Qishan couldn't help but feel a little angry: "But aren't we in a good relationship now? Even the servants at home say that we are a loving couple. If we don't have children, others will think I'm incompetent!"
Li Yujiao said: "If I have a child, I hope my future child will be happy. The premise of happiness is the love between parents."
"Aren't we in love now?"
"Can you promise to love me like this forever?" Li Yujiao asked.
"How do you know I can't? Once I, Jing Qishan, decide on someone, I will keep him/her forever!"
Li Yujiao's heart was moved again.
But she also felt that this was a love talk, it must be a love talk!
"I'll think about it again."
Jing Qishan couldn't help but get angry, he turned his back and ignored her.
She didn't try to comfort him, and fell asleep in a short while.
Jing Qishan had been waiting for her to coax him, but after a while he heard her snoring. He became even angrier and decided to leave her alone for a few days.