Jiu Zhang Ji: The Daily Life of the Reborn Daughter

Chapter 141: Ten-mile Pavilion

After returning from the academy, Qiao Zhen went to Zhenxiayuan to have dinner with his grandmother. There he learned the news that his elder brother Qiao Peng had returned to Beijing. The young boy had not seen his brother for several years. He couldn't wait for Qiao Lili to come to Zhenxiayuan. Knowing that his sister was still in the study, he ran over like a gust of wind to share the good news with her.

It has to be said that Qiao Lili was a little confused after receiving the news. Ever since the Jia brothers had their carrier pigeons, she and her father and eldest brother had achieved freedom of communication. The latest letter was two days ago. In the letter, her father only talked about the war on the front line and did not mention that her eldest brother was coming back.

"Zhen'er, who told you that?" Qiao Lili let Qiao Zhen in, took a dry towel and wiped the sweat off his forehead. The weather was already very hot, and Qiao Zhen ran over in such a hurry that his head was covered in sweat.

"My grandmother told me." Qiao Zhen took the handkerchief from Qiao Lili's hand and wiped her face twice.

Since it was said by my grandmother, it must be true. Besides, my eldest brother was granted the title of Champion General by the imperial decree, so he should come back to see the emperor to receive the title and express his gratitude.

"My eldest brother has grown old, but he has become naughty. He actually hid the news of his return from me." A faint smile appeared on Qiao Lili's face, and suddenly she thought of her mother. The faint smile disappeared in an instant like a fallen petal floating on the water.

Grandma is old and Zhen'er is still young. It's good that eldest brother comes back. Many things can be discussed with him. Maybe the burden on her shoulders can be lightened a little.

Today's affairs had been dealt with, and she and Qiao Zhen went to Zhenxiayuan to have dinner with the old Duke's wife.

The old Duke's wife was particularly happy today. She received news that her eldest grandson Qiao Peng would be coming home tomorrow. She hadn't seen her eldest grandson for several years.

Ever since Qiao Peng went to the border with her father Qiao Xuan when she was ten years old, she could count the days she had seen her eldest grandson again on her fingers.

Qiao Peng is already twenty years old this year and is still unmarried. If it weren't for the fact that the military family does not pay attention to the order of marriage, Qiao Lili would not be able to get married before Qiao Peng.

The dinner was richer than usual, with several more dishes. The old man had a limited appetite, so he liked to see Qiao Lili and Qiao Zhen eat more, and kept serving food to the two children.

"Old Madam, don't you want to give me the monthly salary this month?" Chuntao held the small serving plate in one hand and the serving chopsticks in the other, and asked the old Duke's wife in a wronged tone.

"How can this be possible? What nonsense are you talking about, little girl?" The old Duke's wife rolled her eyes at Chuntao.

"You have taken away all my work. How can I have the nerve to collect my monthly salary?" Chuntao showed the plate and chopsticks in her hands. Both were still clean.

"Then you don't need to receive any money this month, Ah Hui. Use your monthly allowance to buy candied fruits and share them with everyone." The old Duke's wife said to Aunt Hui who was serving her soup.

Madam Hui placed the soup in front of the old Duke's wife and said with a smile, "I think Chuntao is right. Please enjoy your meal. It will be cold soon. Let them serve you, Master and Miss. If they don't serve well, use their monthly salary to buy candied fruit."

"Ouch, maybe your teeth are hurting." Chuntao said to Madam Hui without giving in.

The maids in the room were all laughing, some coquettishly, some annoyed, and everyone followed suit. The old Duke's wife also laughed a few times and immediately felt that she had an appetite again.

She picked up the spoon and drank half a bowl of the fish maw and chicken soup that Aunt Hui had given her.

*

At night, Qiao Lili, who hadn't dreamed for a long time, dreamed about her elder brother.

To be precise, after the news of her elder brother's death in battle reached the capital, a sensation occurred in the capital. But at that time, she had already been locked up in the dungeon by Bai Junzhe and Lou Xinyue. In order to torture her heart, Lou Xinyue told her this story.

She said that her brother had really done a lot of harm to others. She was a noble daughter, but she refused to get married for her brother's sake. Her family forced her to get married, but she ran away on the wedding day and went to a nunnery to become a nun. She originally wanted to spend the rest of her life with Buddhists, but she was kidnapped by bandits one night. She refused to be humiliated by the bandits, so she jumped off a cliff and died.

Lou Xinyue also told her that the bandit was hired by her husband's family, who she had run away from, just to take revenge on her. She had made that family lose so much face in the capital, so how could they let her go with a clean conscience?

However, when Lou Xinyue talked about this matter, she did not mention the woman's name, so she vaguely remembered that her eldest brother had someone he loved, but she didn't know who this person was.

When the woman jumped off the cliff, Qiao Lili reached out to grab her, but she couldn't. She screamed loudly, and finally woke up gasping for breath.

Caiqin was on duty tonight. She heard the noise and knew that the young lady was having a nightmare again. She lifted the gauze curtain, brought a cup of warm water for Qiao Lili to rinse her mouth, and poured half a cup of soothing tea that was prepared every night, asked Qiao Lili to drink it, and then rinse her mouth.

"What time is it?" Qiao Lili asked Caiqin.

"It's just past midnight, young lady, you can rest assured and sleep a little longer. I'll be guarding you by the bed, don't be afraid." Caiqin closed the curtains and sat on the footstool beside the bed.

Qiao Lili couldn't bear to let her girl sit like this for half the night, so she said softly, "Go to sleep on the couch. I'm not scared and I'm very sleepy. I can't sleep with you here."

Caiqin knew that the young lady always kept her word, so she had to sleep on the small couch by the window. However, she did not dare to fall asleep right away. She pricked up her ears to listen to the sounds of her young lady in bed. It seemed that she tossed and turned several times, and sighed softly a few times. It took almost an hour before her breathing became even, as if she had fallen asleep.

Only then did Caiqin dare to close her eyes and go to sleep.

*

At 9 o'clock in the morning, at Shili Pavilion outside the capital.

The Ten-Li Long Pavilion and the Willow-cutting Pavilion at Baqiao are places for farewell.

We are eager to go home and look forward to it. This is also the place for reunion.

Qiao Zhen happened to have a day off today, so Qiao Lili brought Caiqi and Caixing, Qiao Zhen brought Xiaodong and Xiaoxi, as well as Xiang Dazhuang, and Tang Chengmin brought a dozen guards, all waiting here together.

In theory, Qiao Peng's return is more glorious than Bai Junzhe's return to Beijing that day, because the military exploits established by Qiao Peng are incomparable to Bai Junzhe. On that day, Bai Junzhe only returned to Beijing to report on his work and wait for rewards, while Qiao Peng's title of champion general had already been issued by imperial decree.

On the day Bai Junzhe came back, there were many noble ladies on the city wall, all coming to see General Bai. However, Qiao Peng was so low-key that he did not even notify his own family. He only brought a few followers and returned to Beijing in a simple manner.

If the old Duke's wife had not maintained a special information channel with the border, it would probably be difficult for everyone to know that Qiao Peng had returned to the capital until he entered the Duke Dingguo's Mansion.

The siblings and their group had been waiting here for an hour. Qiao Zhen was still a half-grown child after all, and such waiting made him anxious. He stood on the railing of the pavilion and looked into the distance, then asked someone to help him stand on the horse's back and look into the distance, jumping up and down, never idle for a moment.

At this time, a carriage came from the direction of the capital, driven by only one coachman. The appearance of the carriage was very ordinary, but if you look closely, the two horses pulling the carriage are fat and strong, and the materials used in the carriage are also very exquisite. It seems that this is also a low-key person, just like my eldest brother.

Qiao Lili was shocked by her own thought. Why did she compare a passing carriage with her elder brother for no reason?

The carriage slowed down when passing the Shili Pavilion, as if it wanted to stop here for a while. Later, it found that the pavilion was already occupied by this group of people, so it slowly moved forward and then stopped on the side of the road not far away.

Qiao Lili glanced at it casually and thought that this person was probably waiting for his relatives to come home.