Chapter 4: The Beginning of War
On the 15th day of August, the whole family was busy, all preparing snacks and warm drinks for this moon-viewing day. So, after soft grinding and hard foaming, I also got permission to re-enter the kitchen.
After all, children are still children, and they always find some fun in serious things.
"Huanhuan, you're playing around again, what kind of shape is this?" Zhu Cheng looked at the work this time.,Who pinched the pastry into a star.γγγ It's okay, but when put together, it's too conspicuous.
Ji Huan turned her head to look at it and felt that there was nothing wrong.
"Sister Ming, do you know why we want to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
"I don't know, does Huanhuan know? Why don't you tell me about it? β
Ji Huan is very happy, and the books she reads are not all useless, at least she can pretend to be a gentleman.
"Ahem, "Zhou Li", written by Zhou Gongdan, ranked first in the 'Three Rites' of later generations, recording the social politics, economy, culture, customs, and etiquette systems. The word "Mid-Autumn Festival" was first derived from the "Zhou Li", in the time of King Wu of Zhou, it was not a Puqing Festival, just a good day to watch the full moon, and then slowly there was a "Mid-Autumn Festival on the moon", "Mid-Autumn Festival full moon" said. Ji Huan pretended to be Mr. usual, shaking his head like a rag doll hanging on a lamp.
"Now, it has become a formal custom for us to make dim sum, drink warm drinks, and admire the moon together."
Zhu Cheng wiped her hands on the kitchen towel, touched Xi Huan's head, and sighed, "Alas, your sister didn't go to private school for a few days when she was young, she was just playful, and she didn't have time to study after coming to the house." So, Huanhuan, you must remember it when you study with Mr., and then come back and teach me, okay? β
Ji Huan felt the touch on her head, she was very proud, and she responded, "Okay, I must remember it carefully, and then tell Sister Yan about it." β
Zhu Cheng snickered, the child is too naΓ―ve, and she can be allowed to listen to the class casually in this way.
Yu'er on the side suddenly interrupted: "Miss, don't listen to Sister Ming's nonsense, she can be polite and easy to write, she used to be a well-known talented woman in our pavilion, and she was famous far and wide." β
"Huh?!" Ji Huan's face flushed, this is not an axe for the class, "Sister Mi... You... β
Yu'er smiled again, "Sister Yan sees that you don't study very seriously all day long, so I think about it, how can I make you seriously memorize the knowledge of the secretary, but it's hard to be sad." β
"Yu'er you!! Isn't it begging! When Zhu Ming saw that she was poked, she was so angry that she stomped her feet and patted Yu'er's head when she went up.
"Sister Mi is rough! Helper duck! Yu'er hugged her head and ran away.
"Are you so happy after being beaten?" Bao Yuan pushed the door into the room.
"I've seen Madame." The people in the kitchen saluted one after another.
"You do yours, I'm just passing by, stop by and take a look." Bao Yuan covered her mouth and looked at Zhu Cheng and Yu'er who were stunned, "The girl's family, fighting and making trouble, I'm afraid that Huan'er will learn badly from the two of you." β
"No, no, madam, listen to me... Zhu Cheng was so anxious that she stopped, but she forgot to let go of Yu'er's ponytail, and she screamed in pain.
"I know how Huan'er is as lively as that live monkey now, and it must be thanks to you both."
Zhu Cheng was stunned for a moment, and didn't know how to answer, so she hurriedly pulled Yu'er to kneel down together.
Seeing this, Bao Yuan hurriedly helped the two of them up, "It's just a joke, look at you, you're scared." When have I ever complained to someone about a little thing? "I heard it all just now, because then I feel at ease to leave Huan'er to you to discipline." After that, he looked at Xi Huan, who was secretly looking at the edge of the kitchen table, "As the saying goes, a woman should be literate, but I want Huan'er to have a happy childhood, I don't want her to be bound by etiquette, it's good to be so happy now." β
"Mrs. Xie is not responsible."
"The master said that he wanted to eat some shortbread today, and I am sorry for you. Take your time, I'll go out first. β
Everyone in the kitchen responded, "Congratulations to Madame." After Mrs. went out, she looked at Zhu Cheng and Yu'er, and secretly envied them for being so favored and being treated like this by Mrs.
"Then, I won't study anymore, I'm going to let Sister Mi teach me a lesson." Ji Huan pounced out and hung on Zhu Ming's lap. "Every time the gentleman comes, he has a stern face, as if I owe him my life."
"Huanhuan, this is not good, I am not as knowledgeable as my husband, and besides, I have never taught others, I don't know how to teach. If the gentleman had known, he would have to scold me for doing it. β
"How about Sister Cheng and I go to class together, hehehehe..."
"Ah?????h
It is the best time to enjoy the moon, the house is full of lights, and the huge courtyard has the appearance of crowded streets and alleys.
Bao Yuan looked for Huan everywhere, "Huan'er Huan'er!" Where did you hide? But he couldn't find it, thinking that he was running to play with Ming'er somewhere, so he shook his head and went to admire the moon with the people of the house.
On the street, Ji Huan dressed up in a different way, wearing a green coat and a green skirt, wearing a silk hat, a veil under it, and carrying a long sword.
Zhu Mingwu, who followed closely, sighed to herself, she knew that she wouldn't buy this kind of clothes for Huanhuan, she had read too many miscellaneous books, and she was a little obsessed with the chivalrous line shown in the volume, and she loved this suit so much that she wanted to wear it out to play whenever she wanted.
"Sister Ming, hurry up, there is a candy seller in front." Ji Huan jumped up and down to the stall.
Zhu Cheng covered her mouth with one hand and shouted in a low voice: "So Huanhuan, run slowly, I'm afraid my heart is about to jump out of my throat." β
He lowered his body and panted again, looking at Ji Huan's happy side face, "Miss is growing so fast, it's time to buy some jewelry to wear, it must be the icing on the cake." Zhu Cheng saw God and couldn't help but think so.
"Now, give you the silver, I'll have all this sugar...
"Slowly, slowly... Boss, we only need two! Zhu Mingxin was very tired, and almost asked Ji Huan to charter the venue.
Ji Huan took the candy and licked it with satisfaction, "Why doesn't Sister Ji eat it?" β
"Ah, I, I don't want to eat it now." Zhu Cheng took out the rice paper and gently wrapped the piece of candy that belonged to her.
Ji Huan raised the candy in his hand and said with a smile, "Then I'll eat it now." β
This smile is really fascinated to death, and people can't have evil desires, that kind of fluttering aura, as if the whole world is bright. "Miss... Zhu Cheng muttered, her eyes staring at Xi Huan.
God, the smile of the crescent moon eyes, the willow eyebrows are slightly supported, the white little face is ruddy because of running, the little tiger teeth and dimples are looming, and the delicate atmosphere reveals the agility, this set of clothes should have a sassy feeling, but now it is worn by the young lady out of the beauty of the little fairy.
"Eh, sister, don't rub it, rubbing the hairband again is going to fall off."
Zhu Cheng was taken aback, and found that her hands were already dishonest, and she couldn't stop rubbing her little head.
"Hug. Sorry Huanhuan... Don't laugh like that in the future ... I'm afraid someone will... β
Ji Huan tightened the hairband, and clenched her small fist in retaliation and beat Zhu Ming's waist. "What will happen?"
Suddenly, several fast horses rushed over like lightning, raising a cloud of dust, and the leading horse was snow-white except for its gray mane.
"Huh! It's my brother!! My brother is back! Ji Huan glanced at it and was stunned for a moment. It's February snow, Sister Mi is leaving, and my brother is home! The wind and fire pulled Zhu Cheng and ran in the direction of Jifu.
As soon as I arrived at the gate of the mansion, I heard the cry of a man in the mansion. Ji Huan was startled and ran in with his clothes.
Above the lobby, Ji Huan's brother Ji Hong stood beside him, his clothes were stained with a lot of dust, and his hair was messy, as if he had not been washed for many days. There was also a person kneeling on the ground, it was his cousin Baoyun, who was crying bitterly and telling something, and the Ji Xuan on the side couldn't pick it up.
Ji Huan sensed that something was wrong, so she didn't dare to enter the door, and hid in the window on the side to peek.
"Uncle, Bao Yun has tried his best, but he still ended up in such a situation, that Father Yu Shi is really hard-hearted and can't get in. has never offended him, but he confuses Zhou Tianzi. What did he say to my father, 'This is not a righteous statement, it is clearly a cowardly slander, if the court and the middle are all this generation, the Zhou family will collapse'. Cousin Baoyun cried a handful of snot and tears, his clenched fists gurgling, and his knuckles were pinched purple and red.
The elder brother on the side accosted, "Daddy, my two brothers have been in the palace for half a year, but I haven't seen Father Yu Shi's mouth, and I haven't seen Zhou Tianzi again, so there's really nothing I can do." But... There is only one way, and I don't know whether to talk about it or not. β
"Brother Hong, don't say anything! That's the way to go! β
Without waiting for Ji Xuan to respond, Bao Yun turned his head and drank.
Ji Yu pondered for a while, and raised his hand to signal Ji Hong to continue.
Although the father of Yu Shi has been reluctant to let go, but he sent someone to talk, the visitor said that he heard that Bao Guo has a daughter surnamed Ji, is the daughter of the princess, born delicate and incomparable, with the color of sinking fish and geese... If she were to be ... β
"You're crazy! That's your sister! Although I am not talented, I have never hit my cousin with my idea! To send my cousin into the wolf's den to save my father, how like a wolf-hearted dog-lung! I'd rather lead the whole country to fight against the Zhou Chamber! A manly man, how dare he save the country with a young girl! β
Bao Yun punched out at Ji Hong, who was defenseless, hit his cheeks, sat on the ground, blood spilled out from the corner of his mouth, and muttered: "I don't know if that's my sister, my sister." But my uncle was imprisoned, my father didn't want to participate in politics anymore, you have always been temperamental, who will pick up the burden of governing the country. Ji Hong paused, "I'd rather be a woman." I don't have to let my sister face the lustful King Zhou and the Feng Ho who is like a wolf's lair and a tiger's den!! With that, he lowered his beautiful eyes and shed two lines of tears. Ji Xuan, who had never spoken, slapped his hand heavily and overturned the chair on the side, exposing the green tendons on his forehead.
Ji Huan, who was peeking outside, was startled and took a step back, but he didn't want to fall from the steps to the stone slab.
"Who's eavesdropping outside!" Ji Qi noticed that there was a movement and shouted out the door. "Is it Huan'er?"
Ji Huan rubbed her ass and walked in, timid.
"Huan'er, you... Did you hear it all? β
"I..."
Before Huan Huan finished speaking, Bao Yun got up and blocked the direction of Huan Huan with her back and hugged Huan, "Don't be afraid, even if my cousin is broken, he will not be the person who seeks harmony with his family." β
Ji Huan's head is buzzing, and she hasn't reacted yet, it's not a taste in her heart, it's not scared to say you're scared, it's not sad to say it's sad, maybe that's how she feels.
Bao Yun patted Ji Huan's head, turned his head with an angry face, and stared at Ji Hong fiercely, "Cousin, you are not allowed to act without authorization, I will go to the military and government to discuss defense matters." Bao Yun got up and left, wiped his sleeves on his face, and paused, "If I don't see Huan'er when I come back, I will directly raise troops to fight Zhou." β
With that, Bao Yun strode out of the lobby. In the middle of the night, the loud neighing of horses came from outside the court, and the sound of hooves gradually faded away with the sound of "clattering".
Ji Qi sat on the main chair and was silent for a long time, suddenly remembered something, looked up and said, "Hong'er, you go back to take care of it first, I have something to say to Huan'er." β
"Yes, my father has long stopped asking about political affairs, I hope to take care of my body, and I and Baoyun will take care of these things." Ji Hong got up, looked at Ji Huan, his face was full of sadness, he wanted to speak and stopped, thought for a moment and walked out.
Ji Huan didn't dare to look back at his brother's back, nor did he dare to look at his father, and he was uneasy.
"Because of my quarrel with them, because I have so many troubles, what can I do?"
Thinking like this, even my breathing became cramped.
"Huan'er, listen to your father." Ji Xuan's tone was very stiff, "I think the war is about to break out on the land of Baoguo, it is imminent, and we have to fight this war." β
Ji Huan was stunned for a moment, and said busily: "The child knows, if I don't win, I will go and kiss... β
"No, it's not for you to go and kiss." Ji Qi felt that her eyes were covered with a layer of mist, but she didn't dare to show her timidity in front of the child, so she could only hold on, "You have to run, the farther you run, the better." β
"What ???" Ji Huan looked up, incredible. "The city of Baoguo is broken, wouldn't my father become a sinner for eternity if he made such a decision, should he abandon the people of Baocheng and ignore the people of Baoguo?"
"Yes..."
Ji Huan cried out, "Daddy, you don't have to do this, the child can't accompany your second elder for the rest of his life, and it's not to die, why bother... β
"You're my daughter..." Ji Xuan interrupted her, "Just because you're my daughter... β
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The autumn wind in the night was very cold, and the apple trees in the small courtyard also bore fruit, and with a burst of howling, a somewhat yellowed leaf broke away from the embrace of the branches, as if it was a little reluctant, but could not resist this force, and flew up with the cold wind, and slowly disappeared into the night.