Dawn of the Empire

Chapter I Laugh at Everyone (This chapter is free)

Li Gefei said: "Brother Wujiu laughed at me. Although my daughter has some talent and learning, her temperament is not soft enough. Yuan Zhi is the son of an old friend, not a high-ranking marquis. I have a generous and gentle character, so I can tolerate her He has no brothers or sisters. After Ruoxue married, there will be less gossip between sisters-in-law. I will discuss with my wife and let them meet a few times. If nephew Xingde wants to, I will go first It's fine to settle the marriage and wait for the Jinshi to get married before getting married. Brother Wujiu may have to talk about this matter, I thank you in advance."

Chao Buzhi smiled and said: "Everyone has a heart to love their children, it really can't be added. Such a married couple, I will make it perfect." He paused, and then said: "My niece is talented and generous, not inferior to a man. After becoming my disciple, she begged me to pick up characters for her today, I don't know what Uncle Wen wants?"

Li Gefei frowned, and murmured: "Women choose characters?" Chao Buzhi smiled and said, "Exactly. If Master Cao, Cai Wenji, is also an elegant thing." Li Gefei saw that Chao Buzhi agreed, Then he laughed and said, "Brother, there is no blame for such hard work."

After Chao Buzhi left, Li Gefei returned to the inner room, and seeing his wife's expression of hesitating to speak, he asked softly, "What's your trouble?"

Mrs. Wang said: "Just now, my niece, Dr. Qin's wife came to visit the mansion, and her words vaguely revealed that Prime Minister Zhao's eldest son, named Zhao Guangshi, was interested in my family Ruoxue about Ju, and tested my family's family. What do you mean?" Mrs. Wang is the prime minister of Yuanfeng period, the eldest daughter of Duke Wen Gong Wang Gui, seeing the chance of getting married with the deputy prime minister of the current dynasty, she was quite moved by Qin Wang's words.She knew in her heart that Li Gefei had already preferred Zhao Xingde, the son of the deceased, so she was a little hesitant.

Li Gefei said angrily: "Zhao Zhifu was Cai Jing's accomplice who exiled us Yuanyou party members. How can my family marry a 'treacherous' sycophant?" A resentment, even if he is as self-cultivated as Li Gefei, he can't avoid it, and he said angrily: "Is this old man going to cling to Mrs. Zhao Zhifu?"

Mrs. Wang is Xu Xian, who is much younger than her husband. She respects her husband with a bit of fear, and quickly explains: "I also mean the same thing, I just don't know how to reject his family."

Li Gefei frowned slightly, and said, "Just tell him that Ruoxue, my family, has already betrothed to his family." He said with a slightly cold face: "As a parent, you need to take a long-term view, and I think Zhao Xingde is talented. The characters are all good, and they will become great things in the future. On the contrary, Cai Jing, Zhao Zhifu and others, who are powerful and powerful, will definitely attract the taboo of the master, and their defeat is only a matter of time. Do you want me to marry my daughter into a pit of fire? "

Mrs. Wang is the continuation, and at the moment she is reprimanded by her husband, her heart is bitter.She is also the daughter of a famous family, and she has followed Li Gefei for half her life. Although she is a stepmother, she has raised the children of Li Ruobing and Li Ruoxue very well.Although she felt aggrieved at the moment, she had always respected her husband, so she nodded in agreement.

Li Gefei said again: "Zhao Xingde's parents are both dead, brother Wujiu taught him the study of poetry and prose, the so-called being a teacher is like serving a father, I have asked brother Wujiu to ask Zhao Xingde what he meant, and the matter will be settled after Qingming. If Yuan The child Zhi Zhi agrees, and I plan to set a status and let him live at home. The house is clean, and Yuan Zhi can rest assured to prepare for the Gongyuan Provincial Examination next year. Although officials selected for the Taixue Examination can also become officials, it is still not as good as Jinshi. It will also stop others from coveting Ruoxue." As the saying goes, a son-in-law is a son-in-law, and Li Ruobing, the eldest son of the Li family, is extremely talented, but he was elected as an official because he was the first in the imperial examination. It is deeply regrettable that Li Ruoxue is a daughter and Li Ruoxu is still young, and the one who can make up for this regret now is Zhao Xingde, the son-in-law.Seeing her husband's expectant face, Mrs. Wang could only bow her head and reply, "Yes."

In the boudoir, Li Ruoxue's close friend Zhu Ying was making fun of her and said: "I heard that Prime Minister Zhao's eldest son loves his younger sister, but he dare not tell his father, but he made up a story about a fairy entrusting a dream, saying that the fairy in the dream gave advice. He, in this life, must welcome a talented woman who is good at writing lyrics as his wife."

Zhu Ying is the daughter of Zhu Bona, the envoy of the Wukang Army. She has a prominent family. Her aunt Zhu Taifei is the grandmother of the court official. Her younger sister Zhu Fengying is married to the third prince, and her cousin Zhu Xuan is married to the eldest prince. .Li Ruoxue is good at writing lyrics and rhythm, while Zhu Ying studied "color" landscape painting under the tutelage of Mi Youren, which is quite subtle, and her own seal is called "Zhu's Taoist".Among the ladies in Bianliang, Zhu Ying and Li Ruoxue are both good at winning games, and they are called talented women, so they feel a little sympathetic to each other.

"Really?" Li Ruoxue smiled lightly and brushed her hair.Li Gefei asked Zhao Xingde to worship under Chao Buzhi's door with her. She knew a little about her parents' intention to marry him, but although Zhao Xingde had a good character, he obviously had neither foundation nor talent for poetry, Li Ruoxue felt slightly in her heart I was a little disappointed, but I felt relieved when I thought about how everything can be perfect.Compared with others, it is rare luck to be able to meet with the future husband-in-law several times in the betrothed family and know that he is a person who can be entrusted to him for life.

But Zhu Ying didn't let her go, and said to herself: "This Mr. Zhao is said to be a talented scholar. Last time he went to Shao Yushi's home poetry and prose collection, the four poems and prose all beat the crowd, and he won the first prize in one fell swoop."

"Oh?" Li Ruoxue's eyes lit up, she raised her head and asked in a low voice, "Is there another collection of lyrics? Is there a copy?"

Zhu Ying said: "My younger sister is a real idiot and a fake smart one. Yuanyou's academic studies are now banned, and poetry singing is against the system. If some transcripts are circulated, won't it be handed over to the opponent?" She paused and said "However, in the future, I can teach Mr. Zhao a song for you to read silently." After saying that, she covered her mouth and smiled, Li Ruoxue was ashamed and anxious, her cheeks as white as snow were stained with a blush, and she stretched out her hands to twist her. , Angrily said: "What a eloquent tongue 'woman', see if I don't tear your mouth."

After laughing for a while, Li Ruoxue let Zhu Ying go and said, "A letter from Pingyang's family came back the day before yesterday." She had a smile in her eyes, but this time it was Zhu Ying's turn to be a little shy. Asked in a low voice, "Is he okay?" Li Ruoxue nodded, and said, "Master Li has written a lot of military and state affairs, political affairs and people's affairs. He didn't say a word about his good sister and my good sister. But the pen and ink He looks very energetic."

"His letter, can you show me?" Zhu Ying bit her lip and Li Ruoxue said with a smile: "It's only natural, Mr. Li is as good as gold when he speaks, and there are no details in this matter." The thousand-word letter was originally written for you." As she spoke, she took out a few sheets of family letters from a music score, Zhu Ying didn't care about being shy, and took them over to read each word carefully, with joy in her eyes .

Li Ruobing is a leader among the younger generation of scholars, and Zhu Ying and Zhu Ying also communicated with each other. Although they were bound by etiquette and did not mention their children's personal relationship in the family letter, Zhu Ying was able to learn everything about Li Ruobing from Li Ruoxue. .Probably in the near future, they will have a lover and finally get married.Li Ruoxue sighed faintly. Although she was studying under Chao Buzhi's school, she was still a little uncertain about Zhao Xingde's mind and temperament. The sharpness like a flash of a knife makes people a little scared, but they remember it very deeply.I don't know if it's because Uncle Zhao, who decried and exiled, died early, and the world outside is so cold that he suffered a lot, so he is so barbaric.Li Ruoxue excused that person in her heart.When a woman marries and obeys her husband, her life's happiness is tied to that one who is destined.After thinking over and over again, before he knew it, the three words Zhao Xingde filled his brows and hearts.

Zhu Ying and Li Ruoxue carefully read Li Ruobing's letter several times, almost able to recite silently, and then returned it to Li Ruoxue reluctantly.Li Ruoxue joked with a smile: "Good sister, Mr. Li's letter has also been delivered to you, is there any benefit?"

Zhu Ying smiled and said, "What benefits do you want? Makeup powder from the south of the Yangtze River, flower oil from the Western Regions, or eyebrow stone from Persia." These kinds of things are extremely popular among the wives and ladies of Bianliang, but they are of no use to Li Ruoxue.

Li Ruoxue rolled her eyes slightly, leaned her pointed chin on Zhu Ying's shoulder, and said with a smile, "The good thing is to be my sister-in-law quickly, let me be a sister-in-law, and have a baby, let me be an aunt sooner." Stretching out her hand to scratch Zhu Ying's waist, Zhu Ying turned around and said with a smile, "I don't feel ashamed." The two laughed again.