Bastard's Counterattack [Rebirth]

"He's married?" Zhuo Kai was shocked, his eyes widened, and he lowered his arms, feeling at a loss.

"No, can't it?" Wei Jie was also taken aback, and blurted out, "The Empress is dead, don't the princes and princesses need to be filial?"

Rong Youtang carefully folded the letter paper, and explained with a frown: "As usual, of course we must observe filial piety, but it is said that His Royal Highness has been ill for a long time, and His Majesty is very worried. As a last resort, he specially ordered an exception to make a marriage for him."

"My God! I didn't hear any wind." Wei Jie was inexplicably emotional, and couldn't help drifting towards Zhuo Kai from the corner of his eye—everyone in the guard had heard about His Royal Highness's entanglement with Zhuo Kai, but they just pretended not to know. Never mention it.

Rong Youtang said softly: "Because in the period of filial piety, I can only handle it simply, without making it public."

"he--"

Zhuo Kai frowned, leaning against the bookshelf, his thoughts were extremely chaotic: sometimes surprised, sometimes ecstatic, sometimes contemptuous, confused and melancholy... mixed feelings!He couldn't speak for a while, his face turned pale, and he asked in a mysterious way: "Who... did he marry?"

"The seventh concubine was appointed by His Majesty, the eldest granddaughter of Marquis Ping Jia." Rong Youtang informed.

"Is he really married?" Zhuo Kai held his breath and clenched his fists.

Rong Youtang patted his companion's arm reassuringly, and said seriously: "It's about brother's marriage, His Royal Highness Prince Qing never joked like that, and after a while, the news will probably spread."

Zhuo Kai's eyes straightened, he frowned first, then his whole face, he was stunned for a long time before he responded dryly: "Oh."

"Brother Kai, don't think too much." Rong Youtang patted the opponent's arm again, vaguely reassuring.

There was silence in the study.

Wei Jie scratched his head, opened his mouth, but didn't say anything, and swallowed the sentence that rushed to his throat in time: His Majesty has finally married His Majesty the Seventh Highness!Brother, congratulations!

"哗啦~哗啦~" There was a rustling sound, Rong Youtang immersed himself in arranging a wooden box full of letter paper, strictly arranged them in the order of receipt, took out a few letters to review when he was free, and often laughed alone in the study , smiling and laughing, and often staring at King Qing's handwriting, writing letters back to Beijing with a pen, always having endless things to say.

With a "click", Rong Youtang closed the buckle of the wooden box, stuffed it into the deep part of the drawer carefully and carefully, and then took out another smaller wooden box - which contained the IOU.

During this period, Zhuo Kai seemed to be in a trance, leaning on the bookshelf and hanging his head in thought, his lips tightly pursed.

"Ahem." Rong Youtang cleared his throat, flicked a stack of IOUs, many of which were old and yellowed paper, and sighed: "So far, Xizhou has owed a total of 23 shi for grain and 20 silver two!"

"It's a lot of debt." Wei Jie said cooperatively, deliberately ignoring Zhuo Kai, and comforted him: "However, those are owed by the former prefects, so it's good for them to pat their ass and leave, letting you take over to pay off the debt. "

"It's not all old debts. In fact, I have signed two IOUs." Rong Youtang said embarrassingly.

"I can't help it. Those who are forced to do nothing. It's hard for a smart woman to make a living without rice. Without food and money, you can't do anything." While Wei Jie was speaking, his peripheral vision drifted towards Zhuo Kai repeatedly.

Rong Youtang put the two IOUs from Beizhou on the top, taking pleasure in bitterness, and said with a smile: "I hope day and night to be 'debt-free' as soon as possible, but that is unrealistic, IOUs have to be sold out slowly. , It’s useless to be anxious. Brothers, let’s go! Let’s go to Qinghe Village to inspect the summer harvest and relocation.”

"Okay!" Zhuo Kai suddenly roared, lost control and lost his composure, and strode out, hurriedly said: "I'll prepare the horse, you guys wait at the door."

"Hey!" Wei Jie took a step too late to stop him. After Zhuo Kai's back disappeared, he said the second part of the sentence: "I don't need you to prepare the horse."

"Let him go. As long as he doesn't go too far, he can vent as much as he wants." Rong Youtang urged.

"I've been entangled for several years, and it's too early to end. The Seventh Highness should have some scruples after getting married. Let Mr. Zhuo live a quiet life again." Wei Jie muttered softly, sincerely happy for his friend.

Rong Youtang put on his riding boots and carried his riding whip, feeling a sense of pity, sadness and depression in his heart - His Highness the Seventh Highness should treat Brother Kai with sincerity, but he finally succumbed to His Majesty's imperial decree, even in the name of congratulations during the Queen's filial piety Married!

If one day, His Majesty orders His Majesty to get married...

What should we do in the future?Tear your face and fight against it?elopement?

Although the circumstances of the two parties are different, it is inevitable that there will be a sense of hurting the other.

Rong Youtang secretly sighed again and again, full of worries, his mood was not much better than Zhuo Kai's.

after a while

Rong Youtang got on his horse, and besides Wei Jie and Zhuo Kai, his followers also had some trusted guards.

Not long after, they left the city gate and set foot on the wide avenue to the suburban counties. The crowds gradually became thinner. Rong Youtang suddenly raised his horsewhip and shouted loudly: "Everyone!"

"Why?" Wei Jie was confused.

"Let's come to the horse race and end at the boundary marker of Qinghe Village. The bottom three will be in charge of drinking tonight!" Rong Youtang said passionately, and before everyone could react, he shouted:

"drive!"

Seeing the magistrate galloping away, Zhuo Kai reacted the fastest. He raised his whip almost at the same time, galloped without saying a word, and tried his best, as if he was fighting for the champion of martial arts.

"Brothers, follow up." Wei Jie greeted with a helpless smile, and chased after him with whips.But he greeted quietly, and led the rest of the people to follow closely, letting the two people in front chase after each other.

The sun is shining brightly, the fields on both sides of the road are endless, the ripe crops are golden and brilliant, the ears of rice are bowing heavily, and the air is filled with the smell of grain.

It is rare that the first half of the year has a good weather and the crops are growing well.With the sound of the first sickle harvesting, the summer harvest began. Because of the prevention of locust plagues and rain, the farmers were extremely nervous.

A group of people rode at a rapid marching speed for more than three hours. The wind blew their robes flying, and the sun made them sweat all over. They were extremely happy and bored.

Although it was a competition, Zhuo Kai did not completely lose his mind. He came from a family of military generals and had no intention of being serious with frail scholars. When the boundary marker of Qinghe Village was in sight, he reined in his horse and gave up half of Rong Youtang's body.

Rong Youtang knew it well, and simply passed the boundary marker briskly, openly, and happily shouted: "Thank you for the concession!"

The two reined in their horses at the same time, dismounted and walked, Rong Youtang was panting, and said with a smile on his face: "Brother Kai is more generous, let me enjoy the addiction of winning the first place in the cycling competition."

"Where, your riding skills are very good, and you must be among the best among civil servants." Zhuo Kai wiped his sweat with his sleeves, heaved a sigh of relief, turned his head and said, "Come on, let's see which three are inviting you to drink. "

In an instant, the follow-up people passed the boundary marker one after another and got off their horses one after another. In the end, Wei Jie and the other two fell behind on purpose. They readily accepted the result and took the initiative to express their views:

"This time, the three of us lost. Let the brothers drink tonight."

"Never get drunk!"

"How many can be poured is how many."

The big men were laughing and laughing, Rong Youtang drank the water by himself, went downhill to the river to drink the horses, then returned to the village road, and walked to inspect Qinghe Village, which was designated as the range of the barracks.

Gradually, there were more cocks and dogs barking and human smoke on both sides of the road, and the villagers in the crop fields along the way were rushing to harvest food, and they were very busy.

"I just like watching the harvest scene!" Rong Youtang exclaimed happily.

Zhuo Kai was sweating profusely, his face was flushed from the heat, he regained his composure, and said, "I like to watch it too. I really hope that the common people will have a good harvest every year and have enough food and clothing. .”

"Days will get better." Rong Youtang looked solemn, dizzying, carefully observing the people in his area:

When harvesting, the farmers are usually young and middle-aged people wielding a sickle to harvest the crops and carry them to the roadside; afterward, the middle-aged and middle-aged people took over and piled the grain with stems on the ox cart, mule cart, or wheelbarrow. On the ground, they are transported to another site for threshing and drying; the elderly are responsible for taking care of the young children and preparing tea and meals.

Methodical, tiring but very joyful.

While walking and watching, Rong Youtang led the horse through the messy team carrying the crops, chatting softly with his companions from time to time, attracting countless curious looks.

Suddenly, a mule cart bounced in front of it, and a large bundle of rice fell to the ground, blocking half of the road in an instant. The two brothers who were anxious to drive complained to each other:

"Look? Look? Brother, let me just say, don't stack it too high!"

"Shut up, it's obvious that you were driving the car without looking at the road, and the car almost flipped over with such a big stone! Still have the face to blame me?" The elder brother retorted not to be outdone.

……

Rong Youtang watched for a while, couldn't help laughing, he handed the reins to Zhuo Kai, helped to pick up the fallen rice, and persuaded: "Don't make noise, just pick it up? Hurry up, you are blocking the road."

When a stranger appeared out of nowhere, the two brothers stopped bickering immediately, and spoke out quickly in unison, wondering and vigilantly asking:

"you……"

"who are you?"

Rong Youtang smiled and said: "Passers-by." He quickly helped pick up the rice with quick hands and feet, and Wei Jie and others quickly moved the mule cart to the side of the road.Rong Youtang pondered for a few moments, and reminded: "See? The rice is stacked one end after the other, so as not to concentrate the weight too much, otherwise the mule cart will easily fall over."

The two younger brothers, who were wearing homemade bunts and straw sandals, were tanned and rosy. They looked at each other, a little timidly, looked up at Rong Youtang, and the older brothers hesitated for a moment, then said awkwardly: "I see, thank you... Young Master."

I heard that the sons of rich people have to be called "Master"!

Rong Youtang smiled, raised his hand to touch the heads of the two brothers, and asked kindly: "How old are you?"

"I am 14 years old and my brother is twelve."

"Do you know how your family harvests in summer?" Rong Youtang asked with a smile.

"Father and mother said it's okay, I really hope that it will come again in autumn—" The young boy was elated, but before he finished speaking, he suddenly sighed sadly and said sadly: "However, our village has no autumn harvest. After harvesting this season, everyone They will all be moved away, all will be moved to other places, this land will belong to the government, and I heard that a barracks will be built."

"That's right, the barracks that will be built in the future will be called Qinghe Camp. Then will you be compensated for your family's relocation?" Rong Youtang asked again, turning his head slightly, Zhuo Kai took out a bag of sesame crisp candies from his saddle pocket—— The young magistrate is full of energy, and often tries to make unannounced visits to the people, and specially prepares cakes to coax the children.

"Yes." The two younger brothers stared at Su Tang involuntarily. The farmer's children were simple, and the older brother was distracted and replied: "The government gave the money to build the house, and also replenished the land in the new village, and also replenished one season's grain. Let us move and build a house with peace of mind."

"Is that all?" Rong Youtang frowned.

"Oh, and, as long as you promise to move, men of suitable age and physical strength in the village can enter the official workshop as blacksmith apprentices, with food and housing!" The young boy finally got a little excited.

Rong Youtang nodded in satisfaction, took the candy, carefully tore off a corner of the oil paper, wrapped more than ten pieces of candy, stuffed it into the half-grown child's hand, and said, "Take it, try it if you like it."

"I, I——I can't take it." The two brothers panicked, wanted to eat but dared not take it, held the oiled paper bag as hot as their hands, and swallowed.

"Why can't I? Are you afraid that I'm a kidnapper?" Rong Youtang smiled. Just as he finished speaking, a group of people rushed forward. The leader was wearing a seventh-rank county magistrate uniform, out of breath. shout from afar:

"No, I don't know that the Grand Master of Rong's Mansion is here, and the officials are far away to welcome you, and I hope to forgive you, forgive your sins!" The local county magistrate was impatient, and was about to salute——

Rong Youtang raised his hand in time: "Excuse me. Mr. Hu, why are you here?"

Hu county magistrate was respectful, gasped for a moment, clasped his hands and explained: "There is an order from the government: the construction of the Qinghe camp is about to start, and the villagers should be moved out before August. Time is tight, so the lower officials are here to supervise."

"You've worked hard." Rong Youtang praised gently, and then said to the young boy: "Don't worry, I'm not a bad person."

"This is the magistrate of Xizhou, Rongfutai!" County magistrate Hu hurriedly explained to the onlookers, and the villagers turned pale with shock, and instinctively knelt down to salute, shouting unevenly:

"Grassmen pay respects to your lord."

"Hello, Mr. Zhifu."

"A greeting to you."

……

Rong Youtang hurriedly bent down to help the few people in front of him, talked and laughed for a while, and then he got away and rode to Qinghe Bay.

"Over that mountain, the Grand Canal is on the west side." Rong Youtang raised his whip and pointed in the distance, with high spirits, confident and steady, scanning the unique river bends, shoals and wide mountain depressions, and said firmly:

"No matter how difficult it is, the Qinghe camp will definitely be completed!"

Time flies, the grass and trees in Xizhou are green and yellow, yellow and green, and the mountain flowers bloom and fail. Time flies by.

It was winter again in a blink of an eye.

The north wind howled, the chill was piercing, and the night was as black as ink.

"My lord, you should go to rest early and recharge your energy. You will return to Beijing to report on your work in a few days." Zhang Dong was full of anticipation, and while serving hot tea, he said with emotion: "Time flies so fast, we are waiting in Xizhou Almost three years!"

"Is everything packed?" Rong Youtang put down his pen and stretched his waist. He has completely faded away from his youthful appearance. He has a slender figure and bright eyes. Yubai is beautiful and handsome.

"It's been packed early." Zhang Dong happily replied.

"Well, I'll go back to Beijing after I've arranged the things at hand." Rong Youtang got up, walked outside with a teacup, just sat down, but the half-hidden door was pushed open eagerly, Wei Jie stepped in quickly, approached whispered:

"My lord, a visitor from the capital was so drunk that he fell off his horse and nearly froze to death at the gate of the city!"