I was reborn before the divorce

The sun was not yet at its highest point. When Huo Shuyi led the horse to the polo field, the field was empty except for a few people.

She led the horse a few steps forward, stopped a group of palace maids passing by, glanced in the direction of the polo field and asked, "Why is there no one on the field?"

The maid bowed and whispered, "In reply to your question, the emperor has given a banquet, and the nobles are all going to the right hall of the palace."

When the palace maids saw Huo Shuyi standing there for a long time with his brows furrowed, they walked away, bowed and left, and headed towards the palace.

Huo Shuyi looked disappointed. He handed the horse to the groom and complained, "Why did it end so early?"

"Shuyi, I just heard that you were going to compete with Altan's people?" Xie Hui strode over from not far away, his eyes showing concern and his brows furrowed. Perhaps it was because it was hot at noon, big beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Yes," Huo Shuyi took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off Xie Hui's forehead, tilting his head and grinning, "Why did you find time to come and see me?"

Xie Hui gently held Huo Shuyi's hand that was wiping his sweat, and said solemnly, "Don't go on the field. Many people have been defeated by the Altan people..."

"Yes, so I want to win back face for our Ming Dynasty." Huo Shuyi raised his eyebrows, and seeing that Xie Hui didn't seem to agree, he continued, "You don't seem to want me to do this."

"It's not that I don't like you, but I don't want you to do this at this time. You know, so many people have lost to the Altan people. They grew up on horseback. Do you think you are confident?"

Huo Shuyi met her husband's worried gaze, smiled softly, and comforted him: "Don't worry, I have lived with my father in Xuanda since I was a child. I could ride a horse when I was five years old."

Xie Hui's expression was not strange, but he had an indescribable complex emotion in his heart. He couldn't help but think of the story among his colleagues that he was henpecked. Because Huo Shuyi was born into a military family and grew up in Xuanda, where the people were tough, he didn't want his wife to be in the spotlight like this again. Besides, they might not be able to defeat the Altan people, so wouldn't that simply displease the emperor?

Xie Hui remained silent for a long time. Huo Shuyi looked puzzled. He looked up at him and asked, "What's wrong? You seem to be hiding something from me?"

Xie Hui smiled gently and advised, "Just sit quietly and watch others play. Someone has already recommended himself to the emperor. Once he plays in the polo match this afternoon, he will definitely win."

The two walked side by side towards the banquet venue in the palace. Huo Shuyi heard Xie Hui's confidence, and his eyes sparkled, "Who is it?"

"It's General Duan, Duan Gui."

"Not bad, not bad. With General Duan here, we will definitely win." Huo Shuyi nodded and said repeatedly, "Not bad, not bad. When will he return to Beijing?"

Duan Gui was his good friend, with outstanding military achievements, bravery and good fighting skills, and he inherited a lot of the style of his ancestor who followed Emperor Taizu to fight in the northern desert. Later, for some unknown reason, he suddenly resigned from the barracks and I heard that he ran away to Nanjing.

Xie Hui pondered, "Some time ago, his grandfather urged him..." He paused, "Haven't you heard? Old Master Duan said that if he doesn't come back to get married, he will be removed from the family tree."

He turned his head and looked at Huo Shuyi with burning eyes. He seemed to have heard that the Duan family seemed to have discussed a marriage with the Huo family.

Huo Shuyi felt that Xie Hui had something else in mind, and looked at her husband in a reproachful manner: "Such a strong sour taste, who has such a strong taste and is so jealous?"

Xie Hui immediately looked uncomfortable, "I'm going to the camp to have dinner with my brothers, you go by yourself."

*

There was the sound of stringed instruments at the banquet, and the sound of fine music was loud.

The current emperor practices frugality, and in previous years when he came to the palace to escape the summer heat, he would ask the accompanying imperial chef to serve dishes using the spoils of hunting.

Because there are foreign envoys here today, the occasion is particularly grand, as is the so-called hospitality of the host. There are all kinds of precious fruits and delicacies on everyone's table, including lychees sent from southern Fujian. Lychees are not rare at this time of year, but the Altan people have never eaten tropical fruits, so the people from the Ministry of Rites made special arrangements.

Emperor Yuanqing sat in the first seat. His cheeks were sunken and he looked very thin, but his face was rosy.

Sitting at the lower right are all civil servants from the Hanlin Academy, wearing scarlet official uniforms. The Ministry of Rites of this dynasty stipulated that only officials of the fourth rank and above could wear scarlet. Therefore, we can know that these people are at least fourth rank ministers in the court.

At the lower left sat the military generals. Altan Khan's surrender could be described nicely as paying tribute, or, without much rhetoric, as becoming a younger brother of the Ming Dynasty. In order to make Altan Khan's envoy look better, the military generals invited to the banquet were not the ones who had defeated Altan Khan this time.

At the end of the banquet, the leader of the Altan tribe, Huyan Jueluo, raised the wine cup in his hand and said in not very fluent Chinese: "The Ming Dynasty claims to be a great country with many talented people. Why do I feel that it is just a name after seeing it today..."

Emperor Yuanqing's face was calm, but there was a hint of displeasure between his brows, and his smile did not reach his eyes: "Oh? What do you mean?"

"How come there isn't even a single man in the Ming Dynasty who can play polo? We had six games in one morning. If my subordinates hadn't given up a few goals, we would have lost so badly." Leader Altan Khan stroked his sparse beard and said with regret.

The atmosphere at the banquet froze for a moment. Emperor Yuanqing looked up at his subjects and said with a smile, "Does anyone else have a different opinion?"

The dancer stopped playing and, at the eunuch's signal, bowed and stepped back.

A deep and clear voice sounded in the hall: "You are a guest. In order not to hurt the reputation of the vassal state, we are just giving way."

Everyone looked up, and their inquiring gazes fell on a man wearing a moon-white silk round-necked robe with a pine branch pattern. He was well-built, handsome, and looked to be no more than twenty-five.

Emperor Yuanqing led everyone to turn their attention to the Altan people.

Huyan Jueluo laughed loudly, "Who did I think it was? It turned out to be General Duan. Is your grandfather Duan Fu still in good health? In the 31st year of Jiajing, I fought with the old man in Hetao. He was shot by me. I wonder how he is now? I also want to meet an old friend during this trip."

In this dynasty, we cannot casually call others by their full names. Calling someone by their full names is insulting and contemptuous, unless they are your enemies.

Duan Gui did not show any anger on his face. "Grandfather is in good health and is now at home enjoying his grandchildren."

Huyan Jueluo ordered the maid behind him to fill the wine cup. He raised the cup high up and laughed, "General Duan, drink this cup with me. I will give you some face when we play polo this afternoon, which you Han people are good at."

The civil servants in the right row sneered. If the two countries had not just signed a truce, it would not be appropriate to have a conflict at this critical juncture. Any one of them could talk Huyan Juelu to death.

Duan Gui glanced at the emperor who was sitting on the throne, and seeing Emperor Yuanqing nod his head, he also filled the empty wine bowl in front of him with a glass, raised it and said, "Gui will drink a glass with you."

After drinking it all in one gulp, he turned the wine bowl upside down without spilling a drop. The harmonious atmosphere at the table was restored. Duan Gui glanced at Xie Yun who was sitting opposite him with the corner of his eye, as if he remembered some deep hatred. His gaze was like a poisoned cold arrow, falling on Xie Yun's jade-like face without any concealment.