The emperor's eyes were half-squinted, and his gaze became more and more fierce, as if he was about to pierce into the depths of Jun Ran's soul.

The emperor's eyes flashed, and he immediately made a decision in his heart, and refuted lightly: "Jun Ran, you are too young to take on a big responsibility." ”

Jun Ran raised his handsome young face, looked at the emperor with burning eyes, and then asked: "Your Majesty, although the minister is young, he has been in the north for many years, and he thinks he is ......."

"Enough!" The Emperor impatiently interrupted Jun Ran, "Stand down." The voice is like ice, there is no doubt.

Jun Ran wanted to speak and stopped, but in the end he could only bow down, he stood up and retreated.

The chamberlain opened the curtain for him in front, and the moment he stepped out of the imperial study, the emperor's cold and hard command came from behind: "Shen Congnan, you and Wei Guogong will discuss the selection of generals for the expedition again, and then come back after the discussion......

Jun Ran went out, and the curtain embroidered with the five-clawed golden dragon fell to the ground, blocking the sound behind the curtain.

Outside the imperial study, the sunset had already completely set, and when night fell, the sky was pitch black, dotted with countless bright stars and a bright silver moon.

Jun Ran stopped under the eaves, looked up at the northern sky, and pursed his lips into a straight line.

No matter when and where, his waist is always straight, revealing a kind of perseverance and decisiveness unique to a soldier.

He didn't move for a long time, and the guards outside the imperial study didn't dare to urge him, and silence spread......

It wasn't until there was movement in the rear that Cen Yin, Duanmu Xian, Geng Anhui and others also walked out of the imperial study.

Jun Ran turned to look at Cen Yin, who was walking in the front, and the bright red robe stood out among the crowd.

"Lord Cen Governor," Jun Ran solemnly clenched his fist at Cen Yin, "Thank you." ”

These two simple words already represent the most sincere gratitude in his heart.

Cen Yin bowed slightly, didn't say anything, and strode away.

Cen Yin naturally has a place to live in the palace, as for Duanmu Xian, Jun Ran and others, they can only stay in the palace tonight, after all, it is three watches, and the palace door has already been locked.

When Duanmu Xian entered the palace, he didn't have a chance to go out for a few days, and discussed with Cen Yin with several cabinet ministers the details of supporting the northern border.

On 14 May, the 2 million taels of salt tax from Jiangnan was finally delivered to the capital.

It wasn't until he saw the white silver with his own eyes that Duanmu Xian was completely relieved.

In addition to the wars in the south and the north, there were many bandits in the Central Plains states, and there were sometimes rebellions like the Bailan Army.

Although Duanmuxian didn't say anything in the past few days, he was actually very worried, for fear that the silver would be robbed by the rebels halfway, and then the northern border would be really in trouble.

At this moment, when he thought about it again, he felt that he had overthought it: this silver was escorted by Cen Yin's people, how could there be a problem!

Duanmu Xian was relieved, and after the silver was put into the warehouse, he went out of the palace and returned home for the first time in ten days, with a full body of exhaustion.

The news of Duanmu Xian's return to the house spread in Duanmu Mansion all of a sudden, and after Duanmu heard the news, he obediently brought the homemade sugar water.

"Grandfather, try it, this is the lychee round eye soup I made myself."

In addition to eating fresh lychees, you can also use lychees to make various snacks, sugar water, fruit tea, dried lychees, and so on.

A sweet smell came to his nose, and Duanmu Xian only felt that his exhaustion was swept away, as if he had taken some kind of panacea, and his spirits were lifted.

Duanmuxian scooped a spoonful of sugar water with a spoon and put it in his mouth, only to feel that it was sweet from his mouth to his heart.

"Delicious! Four girls, your skills are so good! Duanmu Xian's eyes narrowed with laughter, and he sighed in his heart: The four girls are really well-behaved, really filial, and really considerate!

Duanmu Fei also sat down, only separated from Duanmu Xian by a bookcase, she held her chin with her small hand, and asked, "Grandfather, how is the military situation in the north now?" ”

Duanmuxian swallowed the sugar water in his mouth and rinsed his mouth with tea.

The military situation in the north is confidential, and there are only so many people in the court who know it, but Duanmu Xian has long been accustomed to talking to Duanmu about the court, and he told the content of the military report in a few words, including the fact that Jun Ran invited himself to the north to help but was refuted by the emperor.

There are many crises in the north, and there is a good chance that it will be a long battle.

Duanmu Xian rubbed his eyebrows and sighed: "Four girls, this time fortunately, Lord Cen came in time for the two million taels of silver!" ”

After a pause, Duanmuxian said with emotion: "It's fortunate that the emperor summoned Lord Cen to Jiangnan......"

"......" Duanmu blinked with big eyes, thinking of all kinds of Jiangnan, it was really "indescribable".

She lowered her eyes and took two sips of tea, and her mind couldn't help but turn to the north.

The northern border is the most solid barrier to the north of Dasheng, and it is too important for Dasheng to be lost......

Duanmu Fei thought about it, raised his eyes to look at Duanmu Xian, and reminded: "Grandfather, you'd better pay more attention to the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, the Geng family has retreated step by step since Geng Haixian, the Duke of the First Guard, and its power has been weakened a lot. ”

Duanmuxian scooped up another spoonful of sugar water with a spoon before bringing it to his lips and putting it down again.

He moved his eyebrows and said thoughtfully: "Fortunately, Jun Shizi is now in the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, and he can control one or two elbows. ”

Duanmu pursed her lips disapplausively, according to her, Jun Ran can only play the greatest role when he goes to the north.

Her white fingers slowly rubbed twice on the teacup, and she muttered, "Grandfather, can you persuade the emperor to give King Jian more power?" ”

If King Jian is still in the north and still does not move, and is restrained by his subordinates, it is conceivable that the next battle in the north will only be more difficult to fight.

Duanmu Xian sighed, and when he put down the spoon, the spoon slammed lightly on the soup cup, and the sound was especially loud in the silent study.

"Four girls, Lord Cen also persuaded the emperor to ......"

Duanmuxian's eyebrows frowned slightly, and the description revealed a point of helplessness, two points of bitterness, and three points of solemnity.

But this time, the emperor didn't even listen to Cen Yin's words.

Looking at Duanmu Xian's expression, Duanmu Fei also understood his unfinished words, and his heart was heavy.

Outside the window, the sky was a little gloomy.

Duanmu Xian's gaze looked at the cloudy sky outside through the window at the rear, and said sharply: "The emperor's suspicion is too heavy, he wants to rely on King Jian to defend the northern border, and he is afraid that King Jian will support his own army. ”

Although the emperor didn't say some words, the cabinet ministers, including Duanmu Xian, were not stupid, and everyone knew it.

The emperor finally got King Jian's father and son back to the capital, how could he be willing to "let the tiger go back to the mountain"!

As for the future of the northern realm, Duanmu Xian is now uncertain.

Duanmu was silent and looked out the window.

In the courtyard, clusters of red and bright pomegranate flowers bloom on the branches, like flames like blood, reflected in Duanmu's eyes, the red turns into a bright and dazzling figure, talking and laughing, pointing to the country.

She believed that Feng Yan and Cen Yin would definitely not watch the northern border fall.

Suddenly, Duanmu Fei retracted his gaze, looked at Duanmu Xian again, and asked, "Grandfather, can you tell me about King Zhenbei?" ”

Duanmuxian was a little surprised, Duanmufei suddenly mentioned the king of Zhenbei, thinking that she was because of the emotion of the north, so she said casually: "The Xue family has guarded the north since the first king of Zhenbei, and the last king of Zhenbei, Xue Qiyuan, was the prince with Geng Hai when Emperor Chongming was still the prince. ”

"I was still out at that time, and I only had a few encounters with Xue Qiyuan when I went to Beijing to report on my work."

"At that time, Xue Qiyuan's father, Xianzhen Beiwang's old injury recurred, and his life was on the line, and the Beiyan people took the opportunity to attack after hearing the news, and the 30,000 army pressed the border, and Xue Qiyuan, who was only sixteen years old at the time, was ordered to be in danger. Although he was young, he used his soldiers like a god, and he was full of strange strategies, and drove the Northern Yan people out of the northern territory with 2,000 elite soldiers. ”

"At that time, the Northern Frontier Army was well-known among the Northern Yan and the northern tribes, and wherever they went, the enemy army was terrified."

"If the Zhenbei Royal Mansion is still there, there will be no way something will go wrong in the north. It's a pity ......."

Duanmu Xian sighed as he spoke, and suddenly felt that he was really old, so he would recall the past like this, and imagine what "ifs" like this.

What ifs in this world?

Duanmu Fei saw Duanmu Xian's face with a sigh on his face, and hurriedly poured him tea and water obediently, with little care.

Duanmu Xian was quite useful, picked up the teacup that Duanmu Scarlet had just filled, took a sip, and sighed in his heart: "It's a pity, I can't move my luck for the time being." ”

"Grandfather was right." Duanmu Fei nodded, "The danger in the north is imminent, and Cao Yun can't make trouble at this time." ”

Otherwise, it will be even more difficult to stabilize the situation if Dasheng is worried about external and internal strife, especially the intricacies of Cao Yun and Cao Gang, which involve the forces and interests of all parties, which can be said to affect the whole body.

"Grandfather, eat some sugar water and some sweet, you can relieve your worries." Duanmu smiled and persuaded, "Grandfather, let's rest early, don't get tired, things always have to come one by one." ”

Listening to the enlightenment of the little granddaughter, Duanmu Xian's mood was very appropriate, and he felt that it was fortunate that the grandchildren of their Duanmu family were born, otherwise he would be angry with his sons sooner or later.

Thinking of his grandchildren, Duanmu Xian remembered one more thing, and didn't bother to continue eating sugar water, beckoned to Duanmu Fei, and motioned for her to lean her face over.

Duanmu Fei stretched his neck as good, and his big black and white eyes looked at Duanmu Xian curiously.

"Fourth girl, you go and play tricks with your sister, let's see if she has fallen in love with the son-in-law of which family?" Duanmu Xian pretended to mysteriously lower his voice.

"......" Duanmu was dumbfounded, with a pair of big eyes wide and dumbfounded.

She, she, how does she know which son-in-law her sister has a crush on?!

Of course, Duanmu Xian saw Duanmu Fei's surprise, and laughed in his heart: This girl is still a child!

"It was found by your grandmother of the Li family when she came to the house as a guest at the beginning of the month, saying that your sister has a sweetheart nine times out of ten." Duanmu Xian stroked his beard and said.

Duanmu frowned and thought about it vigorously, my sister usually lives in a shallow way, and she doesn't have much opportunity to contact men.

It can't be Mr. Cen, right?

Hmm, what the hell is she thinking?

Duanmu shook his head.

Duanmuxian looked at the little girl's cute appearance, raised his hand and rubbed the top of her soft hair, and continued to whisper to her: "Four girls, can you do this?" ”

"Done. Absolutely. Duanmu Fei nodded frequently, patted his chest again, looked like he was wrapped around her, and smiled with crooked eyebrows.

It's great, my sister is finally going to find her a brother-in-law!

Duanmu Fei deserves to be simple, but Duanmu Xian's eyes when he looks at her become a little subtle, and a trace of hesitation rises in his heart: This girl is clever and smart on weekdays, but she is not very open to the relationship between men and women...... Is this okay to leave to her?!

Duanmu Xian was thinking about it, and the sound of a maid saluting came from outside the house: "I've seen the eldest young master." ”

Then there was a sound of the curtain ringing, and Duanmu was so shocked that he almost didn't jump.

She raised her eyes and met Duanmu Heng's clear eyes, and hurriedly smirked: "Big brother." Without waiting for Duanmu Heng to respond, he said again, "Grandfather, big brother, I still have something to do, so I'll retire first." ”

She got up and blessed, and didn't give Duanmu Heng a chance to speak at all, so she ran away, leaving only the door curtain vibrating in mid-air.

Duanmu Xian looked at Duanmu Heng, who was slender a few steps away, and while he was amused in his heart, he sighed a little: Brother Heng is also older, almost as tall as his grandfather. Hey, as long as he and Sister Wei's family affairs are settled, he can rest assured.

Now there are too many variables in the court, and the emperor's dragon heart is unpredictable...... If it's a big deal, let's say goodbye to the old man and return home.

"Brother Heng, sit down."

Duanmuxian beckoned Duanmu Heng to sit down, and on the other side, Duanmufei, who rushed out of the study with a stuffy head, looked back and saw that his brother didn't chase after him, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Escaped again!

Duanmu hooked his lips and smiled, and walked briskly back to Zhanqing Courtyard.

The weather in mid-May was getting hotter and hotter, even the wind was stuffy and hot, and by the time she returned to Zhanqing Hospital, a thin layer of sweat had already appeared on the back of her neck.

As soon as Duanmufei entered the courtyard, he saw Duanmujun standing at the door of the hall, Duanmujun was wearing a pomegranate red cloud satin jacket today, a green silk hair was only casually pulled up, and a gold hairpin with ruby inlaid silk was obliquely inserted, dressed simply, but it was bright and moving.

My sister is beautiful! Duanmu Fei sighed in his heart, the more he looked at his sister, the better she looked.

Duanmujun didn't seem to see Duanmufei, and was stretching his neck to look around, not knowing what he was looking for.

"Sister, what's wrong?" Duanmu Fei walked over in three steps and two steps, and asked, "Did you lose something?" ”

Duanmu Jun frowned heroically, glanced at a plane tree not far away, and said, "Xiaoba doesn't know where to fly, I haven't seen it for most of the day." ”

Duanmu Fei looked at the sunset above and said, "Sister, dinner time is almost coming, this gluttonous ghost shouldn't run far." As she spoke, she turned her head and instructed Bi Chan, "Bi Chan, you can find a few maids and women to look for it in the place where it frequents." ”

Duanmujun smiled and agreed, and entered the house with Duanmufei.

The curtain in the house has been replaced with a Xiangfei curtain, and the curtain is embroidered with a delicate and complicated picture of Meilan bamboo and crane, which is very elegant.

Duanmujun knew that Duanmufei was afraid of heat, so he put an ice basin in the corner, and the temperature in the east room was just right.

"Zhen Zhen," Duanmu Jun pulled Duanmu Fei to the side of Luohan's bed and sat down, and pointed to a piece of silk paper on the table, "I just received a letter from Wuyang, she asked me to go to Huangjue Temple tomorrow to pray for the soldiers and people in the north." ”

"Sister, I'll go too." Duanmu Fei said immediately.

Duanmujun picked up the silk paper with a few words written on it, and slowly folded it up again according to the creases on it, each time it was so cautious, and the dark willow leaves were bright and dark in their eyes.

The scene of seven years ago is like yesterday.

She can still clearly remember that the gate of Fuqing City was slammed again and again by the enemy's pillars, and the sound was deafening and spread throughout Fuqing City.

The walls were littered with the corpses of soldiers, and the air was filled with the smell of blood and the desperate cries of the people......

At that time, she was ready to die...... At the critical moment, the reinforcements arrived, and Fuqingcheng was saved, however, his father died on the battlefield!

On that day, she and her sister became orphan daughters without a father or mother.

Duanmujun didn't speak, but the sadness emanating from his body was so thick that he couldn't hide it at all.

Wisteria and pothos exchanged a look with each other, the two of them were maids brought by the sisters from the north, of course they knew what happened back then, and sighed silently in their hearts.

When Duanmujun put the letter paper into the envelope and raised her eyes again, she had already returned to normal, and said with her palms together: "This battle, Dasheng must win!" ”

She didn't want to watch the place guarded by her father fall to the enemy, and she didn't want to watch the Northern Yan Iron Cavalry sweep through the Central Plains and be devastated......

Duanmufei didn't speak, she didn't want to.

The northern border is the barrier to the north of Dasheng, and it must not be lost.

After Duanmujun received Wuyang's letter, he said: "I have copied the "Dizang Sutra" in the past few days, and I will take it to Huangjue Temple tomorrow for offering. Zhen Zhen, tomorrow we will go to Huangjue Temple to give alms. ”

Duanmufei saw that Duanmujun was in a bad mood, but whatever she said, she should do it, and took the initiative to help her and arrange almsgiving.

Sister Mo Ruo, Duanmu Jun knew that his sister was the most impatient with those trivial matters, looking at her well-behaved appearance, she felt as if she had been coaxed, and her mood was a little lighter.

The sunset outside gradually sank, and in a short time, half of it had set.

Bi Chan hurriedly returned to Zhanqing Courtyard, but he was empty-handed.

"The eldest girl, the fourth girl, the slave maid and a few maids and daughters-in-law searched all the places where the little eight frequented in the house, but they didn't find it, and the slave and maid had already asked them to look elsewhere in the house."

The little starling has never been a peaceful bird, he loves to fly out of the yard every day, and the cicada didn't care about it, thinking that it was having fun in which garden.

But after looking for most of the circle and not finding it, Bi Chan began to be a little anxious, and hurriedly went back to Zhanqing Courtyard to return to the two girls.

Duanmujun's face changed, and he was also anxious, and ordered: "Bi Chan, you can find some maids and women to help you find ...... together."

As she spoke, she stood up, worried about whether the little starling had flown out of the house.

Thinking of the time when it was caught by a fluttering beast in the mountains and forests, Duanmu Jun was even more worried.

Duanmufei also thought of it, got up and said, "Sister, I'll go to the house to find Xiaoba." ”

This stupid bird was spoiled by them, and there might not be anything serious outside.

Duanmujun also thought so, and the sisters hurriedly walked out of Zhanqing Courtyard with the maids, and then the maids divided into two ways, one followed the sisters, and the other continued to look for birds everywhere in the house.

The entire Duanmu Mansion was in a commotion with the disappearance of the little starling.

"Squeak!"

The corner door on the side of Duanmu Mansion opened, and the street outside was already empty, and most of the sunset had set, and the sunset had stained the sky red.

The two sisters had just left the corner gate when they saw a familiar figure riding in front of them.

"Gotta get it."

The iron hooves stepped on the bluestone brick floor, loud and crisp.

The man galloped towards this direction with a clear goal, and began to slow down his horse four or five feet away, and the knight on the horse clearly met the eyes of the sisters.

Isn't this a scorpion?!

The two sisters recognized each other, and the little scorpion dressed in a cyan short fight jumped off the horse, arched his hand at the sisters, and directly explained his intentions: "Duanmu eldest girl, fourth girl, the little starling brother of your mansion went to the overseer." ”

Yes?!

The sisters were dumbfounded, unable to react for a while.

The evening breeze blew, and the branches and leaves on both sides of the street were swayed by the wind, and a residual leaf swirled and fell......

The two sisters were a little speechless, and they didn't even have the strength to sigh, they looked at each other and saw the same meaning in each other's eyes—

Anyway, it's good that the bird isn't lost.

The little scorpion's face was also a little complicated, and then said, "It's ...... Won't come back. ”

Don't they all say that if there is a master, there must be a favor?!

Obviously, the two girls of the Duanmu family are well-read people, how can this raised bird be such a scoundrel!

"......" Duanmu looked at the little scorpion ashamedly, hey, his own bird is really ashamed to be thrown into the ceremonial supervisor and the East Factory!

Shame, shame.

Duanmujun is a little used to it, anyway, it's not the first time that the little starling brother secretly ran to find Cen Yin.

As long as the little starling is okay.

"Little scorpion father-in-law," Duanmu Jun arched his hand with a smile, and his heroic posture was cool, "Then please trouble Cen Gongzi to take care of Xiaoba for a few days, and you don't need to deliberately detain it, it knows it." "When the little guy wants to go home, he will naturally go home.

"......" Duanmu Fei was ready to go with the little scorpion to pick up the little starling back, but he didn't expect his sister to react like this, and he was dumbfounded.

"Then I'll go back and talk to the Overseer." The little scorpion arched his hand and said in his heart: The overseer loves that stupid starling so much, even the Duanmu girl said that there is no need to restrain it, and they don't dare, they have to stare at it for a minute, and they can't let this stupid starling fly away.

The little scorpion turned over lightly and got on the horse, like a roc spreading its wings, and as soon as he clamped the horse's belly, he rode the horse away again, coming and going in a hurry.

Duanmujun looked at the back of the little scorpion leaving, and the smile on the corner of his lips couldn't be contained, and said with a smile: "Zhenzhen, don't worry about Xiaoba, it's shrewd!" Last time, Xiaoba also quietly slipped out of the house and followed Gongzi Cen to Jiangnan to find you. ”

Duanmu Fei didn't know how to react anymore.

Cen Yin didn't mention it, so she originally thought that her sister Tuo Cen Yin brought the little starling.

What a stupid bird this little starling!

Duanmufei didn't bother, took Duanmu's hand and entered Duanmu Mansion again, thinking open-mindedly: Anyway, the little starling went all the way from the capital to the south of the Yangtze River, and there was nothing wrong, so it would definitely be no problem to live there for a few days in Cen Yin.

The sisters no longer worried about the little starling, so they smiled happily and returned to Zhanqing Courtyard the same way.

The sun has sunk a little more, and red lanterns have begun to light up all over the house, reflecting the sunset in the sky.

A night flew by in the flick of a finger, missing a certain starling, this morning's Duanmu Mansion seemed particularly quiet, without the rough croaking sound to disturb people's sleep.

It's a pity, if I hadn't said that I was going to Huangjue Temple today, I would have been able to sleep beautifully until three poles in the morning.

Duanmu Fei felt a little sorry in her heart, as soon as the morning dawned, she followed Duanmu Jun to get up, and the sisters hastily had some breakfast and went to Yimen.

The two carriages and the porridge clothes for alms were ready, and the sisters were about to get into the carriage when an "accident" suddenly visited - Feng Yan came, saying that he wanted to take them to Huangjue Temple together.

So, Duanmufei didn't get into the carriage with Duanmujun, and temporarily asked people to prepare horses and ride on the road.

I haven't gone out to play for a few days, and when I see someone on the road, I can gallop for a while with my horses' hooves.

Feng Yan rode parallel to Feipiao, and the two of them were far ahead of the carriage.

Soon, Feng Yan restrained Feipian with a dash without a trace, and the speed of the two horses quickly slowed down, galloping in front of the carriage without a hurry.

Duanmujun in the carriage in the rear took all this scene into his eyes, watching Feng Yan smile at his sister flatteringly, watching Feng Yan use Benxiao to beg for tricks, looking at Feng Yan and smiling and saying that after going to Huangjue Temple, he will take his sister to listen to the play......