At this time, Gusu City is in the spring of March, the willow trees on the waterfront are swaying in the warm breeze, dancing with the reflection in the water, and the willow catkins in the sky are like flying snowflakes, lingering with the unique splendor of spring.

In the ring pavilion of Mingxin Lake, Zheng Dan Niangniang is playing chess with Gong Huiran, Zheng Dan is wearing an orange dress, Gong Huiran is still in white clothes, in a lake and spring, the two talk very happily and are in a good mood.

"Niangniang has been looking good lately."

Zheng Dan lifted his bangs and said with a smile: "The weather is warmer, the mood is better, and the complexion is naturally much better, but compared to when we met last month, Mr. looks a little haggard." ”

Gong Wanran nodded and said, "Now that the country is at war against Chen, I must be responsible for military expenditures." In addition, taxation, industry and commerce, spring ploughing and other affairs need to be planned and arranged at the beginning of the year, and things are all rushed together, so it has been very busy recently, and I often can't sleep peacefully. ”

"Mr. should pay more attention to rest, be physically important, and don't get tired."

"Thank you Niangniang for your concern, today's spring is beautiful, and it is a rare enjoyment to be able to play against a peerless beauty like Niangniang on the waterfront."

Hearing this, Zheng Dan's cheeks were crimson, and the girl's mind was like a lake in the spring breeze, rippling with layers of ripples, she hurriedly lowered her head, and shyly covered her face with her sleeves.

"Mother, it's your turn."

Zheng Dan came back to his senses at this time, hurriedly avoided his eyes, and hastily landed on the chessboard. Gong Wanran didn't seem to notice anything, but he just made a stinky move.

Zheng Dan saw that Gong Wanran began to play chess again, so he said: "Mr. has started to play mess again, since he just said that he wants to enjoy the chess game, then Mr. should not let me anymore, and play a game of chess with me." In the past nearly a year, I have played chess with my husband once or twice every month, and every time my husband told me at the last moment, Mr. today he might as well go all out and win once. ”

A gentle smile appeared on Gong Wanran's face, he didn't answer, just lowered his head, avoided Zheng Dan's eyes, and landed a piece on the chessboard.

Zheng Dan saw that Gong Huang was speechless, and hurriedly said, "Why didn't Mr. speak again." ”

"Niangniang wants me to win once, so how dare I slack off? Naturally, he closed his mouth and played chess wholeheartedly. ”

Zheng Dan pursed his lips slightly, and said with a light smile: "Mr. just speaks, and he wins it with both hearts, and Mr. has a very good voice." ”

Gong Wanran smiled and shook his head.

"That's right! That's right! My husband's two younger brothers went out with the army, how are they now? Zheng Dan suddenly thought of a topic that Gong Wanran must be interested in, so he asked excitedly.

"There is no news recently, last time my brother wrote that he was about to reach the border of Chen State, so according to the calculation of the day, he should have arrived in Chen State now, and maybe the war has begun."

"I hope my brothers will return safely as soon as possible."

"The two brothers are both people with special skills, so there shouldn't be any danger...... "Gong Wanran said this, but he couldn't hide the worry in his heart.

"How long does it take for this battle to be over, sir?"

"It may be two or three months."

"It won't be long."

"After this battle, there will be the next one soon, I just hope that they can make meritorious contributions, be promoted to higher ranks, and lose fewer battles."

Zheng Dan was puzzled, "Mr. doesn't value fame and fortune, but Mr.'s brother values fame and fortune?" ”

Gong Wanran shook his head, "It's not that they value fame and fortune, but I hope that their officials will do as big as possible." ”

"Why?" Zheng Dan was even more puzzled.

"That way, even if you lose the battle, you have a better chance of surviving."

Zheng Dan listened to it, her heart was stunned, she suddenly thought of her younger brother who died on the battlefield, she lowered her brows, and said with some anger: "The country has been fighting for many years, killing everywhere, and the soldiers who died in the war are all grass people at the bottom, and those who suffer are also ordinary people. ”

Gong Wanran didn't answer after hearing this, but took the opportunity of Luozi to give Zheng Dan a look, Zheng Dan then realized that she had lost her temper, she nervously glanced at the guards and maids guarding outside the pavilion, worried that they would hear this.

So, the two stopped talking and continued to play chess.

In the end, Gong Wanran still lost, and Zheng Dan said helplessly: "Mr. still doesn't want to win me once after all." ”

Gong Wanran smiled slightly, shook his head and said: "The skills are not as good as people, and you can't win if you want to." ”

"Forget it, as long as the gentleman is happy."

"Niangniang is happy, I'm good."

Zheng Dan got up, and the maid next to him saw that Zheng Dan was about to leave, so she hurriedly stepped forward to help Zheng Dan sort out his clothes, Zheng Dan walked out and said: "Mr. Gonghui, the only person in this Gusu City who can play against me is Mr. You, you have to study hard, and I will learn from you next month." ”

Gong Wanran also stood up and saluted Zheng Dan: "Xie Niangniang appreciates it, and the minister will definitely study hard." ”

Zheng Dan stretched out his hand and gestured to the maid behind him, the maid hurriedly brought a wooden box, the wooden box was stacked with fifty taels of gold, Zheng Dan said solemnly: "The king asked me to pass the word, he appreciates you very much, you have been the Simin of Gusu for a year, you have made remarkable achievements, and the financial and taxation and civil governance of Gusu have made great progress, this money is rewarded to you, I hope you continue to work hard." ”

Gong Hui saluted and said, "King Xie, Xie Niangniang!" ”

Subsequently, Gong Wanran accepted the reward and watched Zheng Dan leave.

Gong Hui returned to his residence, and at this time, Hana was competing with Heyu Xiwu, and Shuang Di was watching with relish.

"Brother Gonghui! You ...... back" Heyu saw that Gong Huiran was back, so he was distracted and greeted Gong Huiran, but he didn't think that he had finished speaking, but he was punched in the face by Hana.

"Brother Gonghui, you're back!" Frost ran over, and Gong Hui squatted down and touched Frost's forehead.

Gong Hui gestured and said with a smile: "Frost has grown taller." ”

"Hee-hee." Frosty smiled happily.

"Hmm...... It hurts, Sister Hana, you're really ruthless......" He Yu walked over with his face covered.

"Who distracted you?" Hana lectured.

Gong Wanran said: "Hana is right, how can you be distracted during the competition." ”

He Yu was depressed, "Brother Gonghui, you don't comfort and comfort me...... It really hurts......"

Gong Wanran took out two large boxes of rouge gouache from his baggage and handed them to Hana and Shuangdi, "I saw a new gouache on the road just now, so I bought two boxes for you." ”

Shuang Tu blushed, and said embarrassedly: "Brother Gonghui, I can't use this, and I won't use it." ”

Hana generously took a box of rouge gouache and said to Frosty with a smile: "I can teach you, this is not difficult, Frosty is also at the age when it is time to dress up, haha." ”

"Oh, I really want to see how my sister looks after she dresses up, she must be very good-looking!" He Yu looked at Shuang Di blankly, full of yearning, and then turned to Gong Hui Ran and said, "By the way, Brother Gong Hui, don't I have any gifts?" Speaking of which, we haven't seen each other for more than half a month, you've been so busy lately! ”

"Well, there were a lot of things at the beginning of the year, and now that I am using troops abroad, I naturally can't get out of here." Gong Wanran explained while rummaging with the baggage, but he didn't expect the burden to suddenly loosen his mouth, and the gold inside was scattered all over the ground.

He Yu said in surprise: "Wow! That's a lot of money! Brother Gonghui, you brought so much money to the street!? ”

Gong Hui didn't care about the gold scattered on the ground, but picked up a small box, handed it to He Yu and said, "Oh, this is a gift for you, how could I forget you." ”

He Yu took the box, and before he could thank him, he hurriedly squatted on the ground to help clean up the scattered money, "Brother Gonghui, why is there so much money?!" ”

"Oh, this is a reward from the king to Zheng Dan Niangniang." After that, Gong Wanran also squatted down to clean up the scattered money.

After the two cleaned up, He Yu opened the box and saw that it was a delicate hosta, He Yu took a closer look at it, and exclaimed: "Brother Gonghui has a good eye, this hosta is a good product, and it is definitely not cheap." ”

"If you like it, I'm worried that you won't like it."

"Where, where, Brother Gonghui sent it, I definitely like it."

Shuang Di hurriedly pulled Heyu's arm and said, "Brother, brother, try it." ”

"Hmm!" He Yu took off the original hairpin and hurriedly figured it up, but he didn't put it on for a long time.

Seeing Heyu's clumsy appearance, Hana went up and pinched the hosta, and said, "Oh, look at you, clumsy, a Chinese person, you can't even wear a hairpin, bring it to me, and I'll help you get it." ”

"I haven't done it, it's usually someone who gets it for me." He Yu said aggrievedly.

"Hmph, Brother Childe."

He Yu stuck out his tongue and asked, "By the way, Brother Gonghui, why does the king still have to do it for his mother?" How good it is for him to reward you directly, and to show the king's grace. ”

"Hehe, of course there is a reason, you go back and think about it yourself, the king is not confused at all."

"Oh......"

Hana helped Heyu put on the hosta, and finally helped him fix his hair, and said, "Okay, let's see if it's much more handsome." ”

Frost clapped her hands and praised, "Hmm! My brother is much more handsome! ”

He Yu blushed and scratched his head embarrassedly.

At this time, Gong Wanran yawned and said with a sleepy face: "Okay, you guys play, I rarely have some sleepiness, I have to hurry up and sleep for a while." ”

Hana asked, "Have you been suffering from insomnia lately?" ”

"Well, I have had a lot of affairs lately, and I have a lot on my mind, and I can't sleep all the time, and I haven't been resting well."

"Earlier, I have a way."

"Miss Hana, what's the best idea?"

"You wait." Hana ran back to her room.

He Yu thought about it for a while, but he still didn't know why, so he asked, "Brother Gonghui, is the king afraid that others will know that he has rewarded you?" ”

"You are partly right, but the king's intentions are far more than that, you should think about it, and you will be loyal to the king in the future, so you must know what the king thinks."

"Oh......"

Hana ran out of the house, handed Gong Wanran a small box, and said, "There are some spices in the box, called snake thorn incense, when you want to sleep, take a piece and light it indoors, and then you can have a good sleep and a good dream." ”

He Yu was curious, leaned over and smelled it, and sighed: "It's so fragrant!" Sister Hana, why is this spice so fragrant! Give me some good! ”

"You little brat, what do you want this for, besides, that's all I have left here."

Gong Wanran took the box and saluted Hana: "It's really fragrant, thank you Miss Hana!" ”

"I want it too, Sister Hana, where can I buy this spice! Tell me, tell me! He Yu asked, tugging at Hana's sleeve.

Hana took Heyu and said: "This spice is not a mysterious thing, but it is indeed very valuable, it is very common among princes and nobles, and it is difficult for ordinary people to see it. ”

"Oh, can I do that? I'm the one that I love doing the most. ”

"I know the process, but it's cumbersome and requires a lot of labor. In addition, there is a raw material - jade thorn, which is not uncommon, and is sold in spice shops and herb shops, but it is too expensive. Therefore, the process is complex and the raw materials are expensive, and the finished product is naturally ridiculously expensive. ”

"Sister Hana, just teach me how to do it, how expensive can it be if you do less? Well, I have a servant in my family. ”

"Hmph, what a boy." Hana scoffed again.