The New Year of the second year of Xuanren is coming as scheduled, this is the first New Year after the new emperor ascended the throne, the joy of going to the autumn is ripe, and the joy of the wind and rain has reached its peak in the New Year, and every household is busy, beating rice cakes, brewing rice wine, lighting firecrackers, setting up peach stalks, and the whole Datang is immersed in the joy of welcoming the New Year.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, in the old customs, this is the day of not going out, the fatigue of keeping the year makes most people still asleep, the light snow of the night is thinly spread on the ground, and the pine branches are crystal white, as if it is a world of jade trees and Qiongzhi.

In the official road west of Fengxiang came a group of people from afar, to be precise, a long cavalry, about seven or eight hundred horsemen, and more than two hundred spare empty horses, mixed with a few carriages in the middle of the cavalry, this is naturally Zhang Huan and his party who returned to Beijing to report their work, they set off from Wuwei County on December 24, all the way to eat and sleep, day and night, this day finally saw the majestic Fengxiang city wall.

The first to cry out in amazement was Pei Ying's maid Xiaoqiu, a young lady who was extremely sensitive to tall buildings, she was lying on the car window, looking at the majestic city wall, and kept making bursts of exaggerated exclamations, not only the flowers and splendors riding with her, but even the soldiers next to the carriage couldn't help laughing. [Recommended by netizens]

"Girl, you can shut up." Pei Ying's laughter and reprimand came from the cold wind, and Xiaoqiu lowered her head embarrassedly and retracted into the car.

"The young man left home and returned to the eldest child, and the hometown accent has not changed and his sideburns have declined

Pei Ying was sitting in a carriage at the front, she was dressed like a flower, as if the morning sun was coming, at this moment she was chanting He Zhizhang's famous sentence in a low voice, her heart was excited, she had been away for only two months, but she felt how many years had passed. When she ran away, she was a willful and squeamish girl, but when she came back, she became a mature and stable young woman, all as if in a dream.

"Governor! The defenders of Fengxiang agreed to enter the city, and General Chen confirmed that it was correct. ”

In the distance, a personal soldier galloped in, and the sound of the report interrupted Pei Ying's train of thought. [Recommended by netizens] her eyes fell on Zhang Huan's tall back.

"Tell the brethren to enter the city!"

"Yes!" Lin Jiuhan immediately ordered the soldiers to start entering the city.

According to common sense, Zhang Huan decided that after entering the city, he should have a few words of laughter with her, but he rode forward, not only now. It's like this all the way, it seems to be avoiding her.

Looking at Zhang Huan's distant back, Pei Ying's eyebrows wrinkled slightly, although her father had already expressed his consent to her marriage, but this time she returned to Beijing in a hurry, Pei Ying felt a trace of uneasiness in her heart, this uneasiness came from Zhang Huan's emotional changes, since she came back from her mission to Kaiyang County, she found Zhang Huan's subtle changes, he lacked a passion. There was always a hint of melancholy in her eyes, at first she thought that Yang Feiyu had taken advantage of her absence, and she quietly asked her relatives to know later. Ailang didn't give her a chance, and later Zhang Huan returned from the negotiations in Kaiyang County. The melancholy in his eyes became even deeper, and he had to hurry to Chang'an after only one day's rest. At this time, Pei Ying vaguely guessed that Ailang's emotional changes were most likely related to Cui Ning.

Jealousy is the essence of love, and it is also the nature of women, and Pei Ying is no exception. She didn't want anyone to share her love. It doesn't matter who the person is, but she knows it. It is impossible for her to monopolize Zhang Huan, a man with a thousand miles of heart cannot have only one woman, since the day Pei Ying decided to follow Zhang Huan to leave Chang'an, she knew that Cui Ning would come to her side sooner or later, she was mentally prepared, she did not refuse Cui Ning, but she didn't want Zhang Huan to take this matter too seriously, what she liked was a hero who stood up to the sky, should have great ambitions, do great things, and create a foundation, instead of entertaining all day long under the moon and wandering in the pomegranate skirt.

It should be over when she arrives at Cui Ning, Pei Ying secretly made up her mind, she wanted to find an opportunity to persuade Zhang Huan.

In contemplation, the team began to speed up and slowly entered Fengxiang City

Fengxiang is the bridgehead from Longyou into Guanzhong, the strategic location is very important, it is also the second largest city in the Guanzhong region after Chang'an, the army is numerous, the population is dense, according to the power layout of Cui Xi Peidong, Fengxiang is controlled by Cui Yuan, stationed with 50,000 troops, the current Fengxiang Jiedu envoy is Cui Qinggong, but Cui Qinggong is also the general of Jin Wuwei, stationed in Chang'an, so Fengxiang's daily military affairs are mainly managed by Li Mo, the deputy envoy of the festival. [Recommended by netizens]

Generally speaking, the Fengxiang army does not interfere in local government affairs, such as passing through the city, checking documents and other miscellaneous things are completed by the Fengxiang County Assassin Shi Xia Di Regiment training, only more than 800 teams are checked by the army, but Li Mo received a special order from Cui Yuan, where the soldiers of Longyou, Hexi, and Lingwu enter the pass, they must be reported to him immediately, and no matter how large or small the number is, the defenders must strictly inspect.

Therefore, Zhang Huan's procedures for entering the city were particularly cumbersome, checking the official documents of the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of War, counting the number of people entering the city, and checking the weapons carried (foreign troops entering Chang'an, only swords were allowed, and long weapons and crossbows were not allowed to be brought in), and it was busy for nearly half an hour before it was put into Fengxiang City. [Recommended by netizens]

"Zhang Dudu! In the following, he acted according to the usual practice, and there was a lot of offense. Next to the city gate, Li Mo, the deputy envoy of Fengxiang Jiedu, apologized to Zhang Huan, Cui Yuan just ordered him to strictly investigate, but there were no other special requirements, and after all the inspections were not violated, he let Zhang Huan enter the city as usual.

Zhang Huan also smiled and said: "Deputy Envoy Li is loyal to his duties and acts according to the rules, Zhang Huanyan has complaints, and when I leave the customs, I hope General Li will take care of me!" ”

"Of course, Zhang Dudu takes care all the way."

A quarter of an hour later, a pigeon letter flew to Chang'an, and Zhang Huan returned to Beijing to report on his work, escorting 800 cavalrymen. ”

At this time, it is still early, Fengxiang City is very quiet, there are few pedestrians on the street, most of the road is still paved with thin snow, no one has stepped on, only the peach stalks hanging in front of every household and the sound of firecrackers in the city from time to time make people feel that today is the New Year. [Recommended by netizens]

This is Zhang Huan's third time to Fengxiang, the first time is to participate in the imperial examination, the second time is to come with Zhang Potian, this is the third time, compared to the panic and embarrassment of the previous two times, this time he is much calmer, now. He is already the commander of more than 10,000 troops, and he also has his own territory, which can be regarded as a prince, although he is still very weak and the place is also very deserted, but on the big chessboard of the power layout of the Tang Dynasty. He, Zhang Huan, has become a chess piece that is neither light nor heavy.

When he returned to Chang'an this time, he returned to Beijing to report on his work at the request of the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of War, but this kind of report was not compulsory, and if he was busy with government affairs, he could not come, and many local officials postponed it on the pretext that they were busy with government affairs. But on the other hand, the families of many local officials are in Chang'an, so this kind of debriefing is actually a disguised benefit, giving officials the opportunity to return to Beijing to reunite with their families.

Of course, Zhang Huan had to return to Beijing once for both public and private purposes, and he wanted to join Pei's party and obtain Pei Jun's support in order to obtain the necessary food and strategic materials for the development of Hexi, and even the migration of population, which was necessary for the development of the west; On the other hand. [Recommended by netizens] is for Cui Ning.

"Governor!" A personal soldier caught up from behind, "Madame has something to look for you." ”

Zhang Huan turned around and saw Pei Ying leaning out of the car window and waving to him. He smiled and rode up to meet him. "Ying'er, is there something wrong?"

Pei Ying pursed her lips and smiled, "Today is the New Year, do you plan to spend it on the road when you are sick?" ”

Zhang Huan was stunned, and he saw that the eyes of the soldiers were full of expectation. Suddenly. couldn't help but secretly admire her carefulness, so he instructed Lin Jiuhan and said, "The brothers are tired of hurrying. Today, you will rest in Fengxiang for a day, and you will take a few brothers to find the inn. ”

Lin Jiuhan was overjoyed, he hurriedly took a few people to go, Pei Ying saw that he listened to his opinion, his heart was happy, and he said in a low voice: "Let's leave Wuwei in a hurry, and I didn't buy something for my father, you can accompany me to go shopping later." [Recommended by netizens]"

Zhang Huan smiled and nodded in agreement, after a while, Lin Jiuhan hurried back, it was the New Year, people rushed home to reunite, most of the inns are light business, I heard that there are ** hundreds of people living in the hotel, the inns are vying for business, he easily chartered five big inns in one go, all on the same street.

The arrival of the army made the whole street lively, people began to open the door to clear the snow, groups of children in new clothes ran and played on the street, the number of pedestrians on the street increased, and Fengxiang City began to return to its usual hustle and bustle.

An hour later, dozens of cavalry escorted a carriage out of the back door of the inn, galloping towards the North Market not far away, Fengxiang's North Market is equivalent to the East Market of Chang'an, the goods in the market are mostly high-grade luxury goods, and there are many shops, but most of them are not open at this time, the entire North Market is deserted, and only a few snow-clearing handymen are busy on the streets. [Recommended by netizens]

"Go sick, or let's go to lunch first." Pei Ying was a little disappointed when she saw that the shops were almost closed, and she saw that a restaurant not far away had opened, so she smiled and said to Zhang Huan: "Today is the New Year, I will accompany you to drink a few glasses of wine, what do you think?" ”

"Okay!" Zhang Huan smiled and urged the horse to go up first.

The restaurant is also deserted, there is no diner, the shopkeeper is lazily lying on the counter napping, and a few shop Xiao Er are cleaning the store, see a large group of people coming in, this is the first batch of guests this year, you must not go, the shopkeeper immediately greeted him in spirit, while scolding Xiao Er to take care of the horse, he nodded and smiled: "Welcome the guest officer to dine in the shop, the delicacies of the mountains and seas, seasonal vegetables and fruits, and the price is fair, guaranteed to make you satisfied." ”

"Find us a big suite, and there's a private room in it."

"Yes! Yes! Yes! The shopkeeper agreed, and he led them to a palatial room, in which there was a small room with a partition, and by the window they could see the street outside. [Recommended by netizens]

After a while, all kinds of delicacies were served like flowing water, and the soldiers had already eaten unceremoniously, and the laughter outside was very lively, and in the elegant room, Pei Ying saw two little maids standing aside, she smiled and said to them: "You two go out to eat!" I'll do it myself. ”

Hua Jinxiu reacted immediately and pulled Xiaoqiu out.

Pei Ying closed the door, she glanced at Zhang Huan, saw him looking at the street with his hands in contemplation, couldn't help biting his lower lip gently, stretched out his slender jade fingers to pick up the wine jug, poured a glass of wine full, she slenderly swayed from side to side and walked to Zhang Huan's side, and said with a shallow smile: "This is the first glass of wine in the New Year, Ying'er respects you." ”

"Thank you, lady!"

Zhang Huan took the wine glass with a smile, looked at her affectionate eyes, and poured her a glass of wine, "I also toast you." ”

As he spoke, his arm bent slightly, making a hollow shape, Pei Ying immediately understood, her face flushed, and she shyly picked up the wine glass and passed it through his arm, the two held each other's arms, and slowly drank the wine in their glasses.

Pei Ying sighed happily, pillowed her head on his shoulder, and said coquettishly: "Go to illness, why are you so cold to me these days?" Don't you want to marry me again? ”

"Why wouldn't I want to marry my Di Ying'er? Where do you think of it! ”

Zhang Huan shook his head with a smile, looked down at her and said, "I want to tell you something, but I don't know how to speak, so I'm a little bored these days." ”

"Is it for Cui Ning?" Pei Ying asked faintly.

Zhang Huan was stunned, and then he smiled bitterly and said, "So you know." ”

"How could I not know about such a thing?" Pei Ying's eyes flowed, and he glanced at him and said: "I am a woman, women are the most sensitive to this kind of thing, just see that you are in a hurry to rush back to the capital, these days with me and worry, I guessed seven or eight points, besides Cui Ning, who else can you for?" ”

Zhang Huan stood up and walked to the window, he stared out the window, and after a long time, he hated and said: "I once made an oath to heaven and earth, I will marry Cui Ning in this life, and I originally asked her to wait for me for two years, but I heard that Cui Yuan had promised her to Wang Yan, and the marriage would be completed after the Shangyuan Festival."

Speaking of this, Zhang Huan suddenly turned his head, looked at Pei Ying deeply and said: "Ying'er, you and Cui Ning are both my love, I will regret losing any of you for life, I don't want to make you sad, but I don't want to make her sad." ”

Pei Ying slowly stepped forward, hugged his waist from behind, and gently pressed her face against his back, "Go sick, you know?" I like you the way you are now, no matter how difficult things are, I can't stop your determination, this is the man in my mind! ”

You Zhang Huan was a little surprised, he didn't expect Pei Ying to answer like this.

"Do you think I'm going to cry and make a fuss and threaten death at the end?" A sly smile flashed in Pei Ying's eyes, and she pursed her plump mouth and said aggrievedly: "Who told my husband to have a gloomy face all day long, show me a face, do I dare not agree?" ”

Zhang Huan's heart was full of joy, he couldn't help but take Pei Ying into his arms, carefully looked at the sweet and charming face in front of him, and his heart was full of infinite tenderness and love.