concubines

"Young Master...Young Master..." The woman looked at Qi Yunruo, crying uncontrollably.

Several guards looked at each other, Qi Yunruo murmured: "Sister Yuanyuan, it's you, Sister Yuanyuan..."

From his half-open door, Li Chen, who was sitting up, watched Qi Yunruo walk up to the woman, half kneeling on the ground and hugging the woman.

Qi Yunruo couldn't help but bury his head on Sister Yuanyuan's shoulders, and his closed teeth made a sound because of the trembling, "Sister Yuanyuan, have you been here all these years?"

The woman hugged the young boy, as if she was holding the seven-year-old child who had just lost her mother many years ago. The nine years lost in the middle are far away from them. The woman has no surname. After she left the capital, she took the old master's surname. When I settled down in Yushu Pass, I called myself Shui Yuanyuan.

Shui Yuanyuan was still a young girl when she left Qi Yunruo, and now she is a young woman with three children. She stretched out her hand to help the boy up, wiped away her tears, and said softly: "Heaven has eyes, tell me to see you again, and you don't want me to see you again." Cry, we met, it's a good thing."

Li Chen signaled the guards inside the door, and two tall men helped the master and servant in, Qi Yunruo looked at Li Chen in a panic, Li Chen smiled at him comfortingly, "Bring someone in together, Xiao Qi."

Shui Yuanyuan just remembered something and looked at Qi Yunruo, why is the young master here?Isn't His Royal Highness Chun Wang inside?Could it be... Her heart tightened suddenly.

Qi Yunruo pulled Shui Yuanyuan in, Li Chen was already fully dressed and sat on the chair, Shui Yuanyuan bowed gracefully and said, "Military lady Shui Yuanyuan sees Chun Wang Qiansui."

Li Chen glanced at her whole body, seeing her polite appearance, she really came from the capital, he glanced at Qi Yunruo with red eyes, and said, "This sister-in-law, is the official wife?"

Shui Yuanyuan said: "Exactly, the husband of the military woman is a captain of Yushuguan, and his official position is from the sixth rank."

Li Chen smiled and said, "Excuse me, may I ask which captain it is?"

"The military woman's husband is named Dong Cheng."

Qi Yunruo was pleasantly surprised: "Brother A Cheng? Sister Yuanyuan, are you married to Brother A Cheng?"

Shui Yuanyuan smiled at him, then turned around and looked at Li Chen scrutinizingly.

Li Chen said to Qi Yunruo: "You guys have a good talk here, I'll go out for a walk."

Qi Yunruo looked at him and said anxiously: "My lord, you can't go out, your injury hasn't healed yet, and you haven't had breakfast yet?"

Li Chen shook his head with a smile, "I'm going to Qu Qing's place, it's only a few steps. After I slept, I felt that nothing happened. Don't worry so much."

Qi Yunruo frowned, but Li Chen patted him on the shoulder and walked around them.

After he left, Shui Yuanyuan finally couldn't hide her worry, and said, "Young master, the frontier is no better than the capital, and there are many crises...Why are you by King Chun's side?"

Qi Yunruo didn't answer, but asked with a smile: "Are you really married to Brother A Cheng? What happened back then? Brother A Cheng is now the general leading the army?"

Shui Yuanyuan let go of her worries, and put a smile on her face again. She recalled: "After the girl died, I was sold out by the Ziyang uncle's mansion, that is, I was sold to the northwest as a slave. Brother Ah Cheng is not a slave, but was I was beaten up and rushed out... I never thought that he recovered from his injuries and came all the way to find me with his savings for several years. Later, he took me to escape and clashed with the soldiers at the pass. Fortunately, General Sidde made an inspection Seeing how bloody Brother Ah Cheng is, he was accepted as a personal soldier. Later, Brother Ah Cheng obtained military merits, so he begged for a grace to bring me into a good family in Suzhou, and marry me," Shui Yuanyuan said. There were faint tears in her eyes, and she wiped them with a handkerchief, "Dalang is six years old now, Erlang is four years old, and the eldest daughter is still in her infancy. I have everything I should have over the years, and the only thing I miss is you, Young Master, I have long seen that Uncle Ziyang is not someone who can be entrusted with for life, but the girl never listened to me, and did not leave a way out for herself. Later, I was always worried, how could Uncle Ziyang have so many children and concubines? How about you... Fortunately, I finally saw you today."

Shui Yuanyuan is already the wife of an official family, but she still took the initiative to go to the military doctor's office to help out, and that's why she delivered medicinal food to King Chun today. She looked at Qi Yunruo lovingly, and remembered the rumors she had heard recently, but her heart became more and more dissatisfied. stable.

Qi Yunruo looked at the direction outside the door, and said softly: "My lord treats me very well, and I also like to stay by his side. Sister Yuanyuan, don't worry about me. Let's wait for brother A Cheng to go to see him when he is free. I also want to see you children."

Shui Yuanyuan's heart skipped a beat, and she said anxiously: "I'm at the border, so I don't know much about the capital, but last year, didn't Miss Ziyang's mansion marry Prince Chun?"

"...I'm a concubine." Qi Yunruo lowered his head.

"Bastard!" Shui Yuanyuan gritted her teeth, "Qi Suxiao! How could he have the face to do such a thing! Is he worthy of the girl? How many tricks did he use to make the girl fall in love with him! How many admirers did the girl have, even... "Shui Yuanyuan paused, looked at Qi Yunruo and said, "Master, why didn't I meet you earlier? It's better to ask me to go back to the capital, and I will bring you to the border and live with us, which is better than this."

Qi Yunruo hugged her and comforted her: "I'm really doing well, you trust me, don't be angry, and don't worry, okay?" When Shui Yuanyuan was no longer so excited, Qi Yunruo whispered, "You don't know , beside the prince, I often feel that I am cowardly and useless, and I always add to the chaos."

Shui Yuanyuan recalled that the prince just brought a victory to Yushu Pass the night before yesterday, and she felt a little complicated.

Li Chen never came back. If Qi Yun was thinking about his injury, he became a little absent-minded. Shui Yuanyuan stood up and said goodbye, "Brother Ah Cheng is on duty today, and he won't be home until evening. I will pick you up at that time. There is only one The old mother looked at the child, and I was a little worried."

Qi Yunruo went to see her off, sent her all the way outside the camp, and took a long time to look back.

He turned around, only to find that Li Chen was walking back slowly, Qi Yunruo said pleasantly, "My lord, you are back."

Li Chen nodded with a smile and waved his hands. Qi Yunruo trotted over and asked, "Have you eaten yet? Where have you been? Why has it taken you so long?"

Li Chen didn't answer, but instead asked, "Are you hungry?"

Qi Yunruo was stunned for a moment, then remembered that he hadn't eaten. Li Chen dragged him back. Qi Yunruo found a stack of pancakes and porridge on the table in the room where they lived. Li Chen saw that Qi Yunruo had finished eating, so he didn't rush to ask him what he said just now. about that woman.

Qi Yunruo looked at him with nostalgia in his eyes, "Sister Yuanyuan is my mother's maid. She is seven or eight years older than me and has taken care of me since I was a child. Brother Ah Cheng is a helper at home. He has always liked Sister Yuanyuan, but Yuanyuan Sister feels that her status is low, and she is not worthy of Brother Ah Cheng who is a son of a good family."

Li Chen listened to him quietly.

Qi Yunruo's tone became a little sad, "I was only seven years old when I was brought back to Ziyang Bo's mansion, and I couldn't do anything. I knew that sister Yuanyuan had been sold, but I couldn't find her. After so many years, I thought we would all be together in this life. I won't see you again."

Qi Yunruo has not thought of his mother for a long time, but because of the reunion with Shui Yuanyuan, he seems to have returned to that time. His mother is more beautiful than any other woman he has ever seen. No hurry, there is always some sadness in her brows, and her smile is always light and faint. During the long wait, her life was wasted to the end when she was only twenty-six.

Qi Yunruo raised his head and said to Li Chen: "My lord, I have made an agreement with Sister Yuanyuan to go to their house tonight and see brother Ah Cheng and their three children."

Li Chen nodded, "Okay."

After a while, Qi Yunruo said anxiously: "My lord, I forgot, are you really okay? The wound is not open, right? Is your chest still hurting?"

Li Chen said helplessly, "I told you, I'm really fine."

Qi Yunruo went to pull Li Chen to the bed and lay down again, and asked, "Did you drink the medicinal porridge in the morning?"

"It's been used by Qu Qing."

Only then did Qi Yunruo feel relieved.

Li Chen looked at Qi Yunruo, feeling a little soft in his heart. Under the deliberate neglect and indifference of the Ziyang uncle's mansion, Xiao Qi hadn't read too many books, nor had he practiced martial arts, but he was very serious in his work. When he was in the palace, those thankless He copied the book of ceremonies in the Molian Court for no benefit at all. He slept very lightly during the march, and he would get up whenever he moved. The water he brought back was always warm and just right. Remind yourself, come back with dinner...

Xiao Qi is thoughtful and intelligent. Seeing the eyes of Shui's daughter on him today, Li Chen felt that asking Xiao Qi to always serve him by his side would break his wings. If he was given a wider sky, would he Will go far away?

Li Chen thought of Ji Huan, Ji Huan came with a purpose, and returned with the fulfillment of his wish, but Xiao Qi did not, he lived in a small environment, 15 years old, still ignorant, when he grows up, Knowing that it will be difficult for you to move forward in the future, will you hate yourself?

He didn't have a chance before, if I give him this chance...

Li Chen vaguely had a plan in mind.

In the evening, Shui Yuanyuan came to see Qi Yunruo, but Li Chen avoided him. When Qi Yunruo left the camp, he saw a familiar figure, his eyes lit up, and he shouted excitedly, "Brother Ah Cheng!"

Dong Cheng looked him up and down, and said with relief, "Master has grown up."

Qi Yunruo felt a little embarrassed, "Brother Ah Cheng, sister Yuanyuan, don't call me Young Master anymore, just call me by my name."

Shui Yuanyuan looked at him softly, smiled and nodded.

Dong Cheng is already an official, and after he got his military status, he was assigned a house with three or four servants to serve him. His two sons looked very energetic, and the youngest daughter was hugged by the old mother when she met people go back.

There were only three or two hot dishes on the table, still steaming hot, Qi Yunruo felt warm in his heart, Dong Cheng and Shui Yuanyuan looked at him gently, Qi Yunruo's nose was a little sore, Dong Cheng's eldest son looked at him curiously He, Qi Yunruo rubbed his head, thinking that he was already an elder, so he couldn't show his weakness.

Dong Cheng poured him a glass of wine, he had already heard some things from his wife, and he couldn't believe it, but he couldn't think of any way to persuade him to leave King Chun.

Shui Yuanyuan said softly: "I have nothing to do at home, so I will make an agreement with Mr. Liu of the military medical office, and I will help when necessary. Our husband and wife have received a lot of help from General Si. Brother A Cheng guards the pass, and I can't do it like that." The official wife of the other family is enjoying the comfort, I kept thinking after I came back today, I am lucky that I went today, if I don’t meet in the future, I don’t know if I will have a chance to see you again in this life.”

Qi Yunruo smiled, raised his wine glass, took a small sip, the taste was still extremely spicy, sighed lightly, Qi Yunruo said: "I know you are worried about me, but things are not what you think, the prince never persecuted me, this This time is also my willingness to follow."

Shui Yuanyuan said coldly: "But Uncle Ziyang is really nothing. When the girl passed away, how many treasures were left behind, and the money was enough to make the young master rich for a lifetime. Yu Ze III, they sold me and drove away Ah Cheng Brother, I comforted myself on the way to the northwest, I will separate you out in the future, I don’t need them for a tael of silver! Uncle Ziyang really has the face to send a good man as a dowry for his first daughter!"

If Qi Yun didn't understand the words behind Shui Yuanyuan, he asked in a daze, "My mother left behind a lot of treasures?"

Shui Yuanyuan nodded solemnly, "When the girl left Zhiya Building, the gold and silver jewelry, emerald and gemstones she brought were worth tens of thousands of taels. The girl didn't rely on Qi Suxiao for a day, but set up two shops by herself. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s the most prosperous place in the capital city to deal in rice and noodles, and a family that deals in clothing and jewelry.”

Qi Yunruo was at a loss for a moment. He remembered that when he was young in the courtyard of Qingzhi Hutong, his mother always dressed exquisitely and beautifully. She once wore a string of green luan with nine pearls in it. The pearls were round and translucent. With every step, she wore a white jade bracelet around her waist, and the ring made a ringing sound as she walked.My mother loves to lean on the couch and read a book, and the screen embroidery behind her is exquisitely crafted...

At that time, he was not tired of fine food, and his mother used the best brocade to make clothes for him without hesitation. When he went out, he couldn't beat the older children and went back to cry, and his mother beat him with golden marbles on the birds on the tree... The past Scenes returned to Qi Yunruo's eyes, and he remembered that when he first went to Ziyangbo's mansion, he was randomly thrown into a small deserted yard by Ziyangbo. Hiding in bed shivering with cold.

He thought that his mother's money belonged to Uncle Ziyang, and Uncle Ziyang took it all back. He only found out today that it was not like that. His mother left him a lot of wealth.

What about those things?

...Suddenly, he remembered that when Qi Niqun got married, he was called to organize the dowry booklet for Qi Niqun.

"A red-gold Qingluan spitting out pearls, a gold-plated amulet inlaid with jade and butterfly flowers, a white crystal peony amulet, and a long emerald hairpin inlaid with five-color jewels in gold."

"One hundred white jade beads are forbidden to hang one step, and one red jade gold bead is forbidden to hang one step."

"A set of gilt sandalwood kang screens for four seasons embroidery..."

Mother's things...why did they become Qi Niqun's dowry?

When Qi Yunruo left Dong's house, Shui Yuanyuan followed him out with some anxiety, Qi Yunruo walked absent-mindedly, but when he looked up, he saw a familiar figure not far away.

At this time, the moon was already in the sky, Li Chen held the lantern and looked at him with a smile.

Shui Yuanyuan stopped in her tracks, Qi Yunruo walked over, Li Chen said to Shui Yuanyuan: "When you meet again after a long absence, you may have a drink, Xiao Qi doesn't drink well, I'm afraid he won't be able to walk, so come and have a look."

Shui Yuanyuan blushed expressionlessly and said, "The military lady thanked the lord on behalf of the young master."

Li Chen ignored the impoliteness in her tone, and asked Qi Yunruo, "What's wrong with you? I don't look well."

Qi Yunruo forced a smile and said, "I have a headache after drinking some wine."

Li Chen didn't continue to ask, and said to Shui Yuanyuan: "Madam stay, we're taking our leave." After speaking, he helped Qi Yunruo to turn around and leave.

Qi Yunruo was supported by him, and his thoughts slowly went blank. He didn't react until he went back to the room where he and Li Chen lived in the camp, and Li Chen lit the lamp.

Li Chen put Qi Yunruo on the bed and finished, sat next to him, touched his face, and asked, "What did you say?"

Qi Yunruo looked at him sideways, Qi Niqun's face, Ziyangbo's face, and Mrs. Zhao's face kept flipping in his mind, and finally turned into the day when Li Chen and Qi Niqun got married, he propped up the window and dressed as a newcomer. The prince in the formal attire noticed his gaze and looked over at that moment.