Winter solstice.

Although it is only an inconspicuous one of the 24 solar terms, the winter solstice is also a small festival for Longdu.

At this time of year, the people of Longdu want to drink mutton soup and eat mutton hot pot, and only when they eat warm on the day of the winter solstice will they be warm and warm to the beginning of spring.

Qin Wan doesn't like mutton, and always feels that it smells bad, so on the day of the winter solstice, the county lord's mansion does not eat mutton.

Bai Zhishui is used to pampering Qin Wan, a meal of mutton, it's just a custom, and she doesn't like it very much, so the mother and daughter decided to eat beef hot pot, anyway, it's all meat, any meat. It's just that before the kitchen had time to go out to procure, Bai Zhishui and Qin Wan were called to the Protector's Mansion by the old prince.

Since Qin Wan's eldest uncle Bai Huafeng attacked the lord, the Protectorate Mansion has been separated.

It is said that it is a separation, but a new wall was built in the middle of the courtyard, a gate was installed, and the Protectorate Mansion was divided into two. As the new Duke of Bai Huafeng, the yard is larger. The old man and his wife lived with Bai Huafeng.

Several cousins are at the border, and the cousins are busy preparing for marriage.

The family affairs of several cousins were decided not long ago, and they are all well-known families, and they are also old friends with the Protector Mansion.

Although the children's family affairs are all the words of the matchmaker at the behest of their parents, the old protector still spent a lot of effort and selected the family after discussing with Mrs. Bai. may seem unknown to outsiders, but the foundation is deep and the heritage is there, but he is used to being low-key and does not want to be mixed into the mess in the court.

This is also what the old protector is most concerned about.

The protector does not need to use marriage to ensure the prosperity and continuation of the family, and when it comes to the generation of the old protector, he only hopes that his children can live a peaceful and peaceful life, so they are more interested in the heritage of the family.

If it is too sharp, it will only invite unnecessary trouble.

Bai Zhishui and Qin Wan haven't been back for a long time, so after they went to the flower hall to greet a few elders, Qin Wan was pulled away by a few cousins.

Although when it comes to family affairs, girls are more shy, but the protector is a military general, and he is also very laissez-faire in the education of his children, as long as it is not crooked, the rest is easy to say. So Qin Wan asked about the relatives of several cousins, and the other party was also generous, half joking and half serious.

After that, he talked about the war at the border pass.

Compared with ordinary women, the women in the Protector's Mansion have a far-reaching vision.

The situation on the battlefield can only be known by being on the spot, compared to the civil officials who can only chirp crookedly in the court, the military generals can best experience the atmosphere of the two countries from the battlefield, and they are the most intuitive people compared to the civilian officials who don't understand anything in the court and can only talk on paper.

Therefore, the teaching of children, whether it is the old protector or the current protector, starts from the most practical place. The most critical point is that because the border pass is guarded by the Bai family's army, as a person in the Protector's Mansion, from the master to the subordinate, they all have a deeper understanding than the civil officials in the court.

"That's right, Jiaojiao," in the corner, Bai Yiman said to Qin Wan casually while fiddling with the silk thread in his hand, "I heard that the prince has been trapped in southern Xinjiang. ”

As soon as these words came out, Qin Wan naturally knew that Bai Yiman was going to talk about Chu Fan.

It seems a little inappropriate to say "sleepy", Chu Fan was instructed by the old emperor to send supplies to southern Xinjiang, but it was a coincidence that the fight broke out at this time. Although it's just a small fight in southern Xinjiang, don't you teach them a lesson, they have been harassed like this, and there is no end?

Duan Wang Ye is a military general, as the prince of Chu Fan grew up in the military camp since he was a child, this time he happened to encounter such a thing, so he naturally had to sit in town, so he delayed the return trip again and again.

And the southern Xinjiang side is also cunning, knowing that it can't beat Longdu hard, so they simply provoke today, shrink their heads tomorrow, and never respond to the battle head-on.

Chu Fan had the heart to fight quickly, and he couldn't catch the southern Xinjiang people who were shrinking in the dense forest, so he sat there for so long, although he had always had the upper hand, but it didn't stop many southern Xinjiang people from gaining an inch.

It's a very helpless thing.

Qin Wan can't help it.

Who said that the geographical conditions of southern Xinjiang are like this, so for so long, Chu Fan can only stalemate with southern Xinjiang.

Qin Wan lowered her head and thought about it so much, but she was still keenly aware of Bai Yiman's gaze floating on her.

Looking up, he generously met Bai Yiman's tentative gaze, and Qin Wan smiled sweetly.

"Hey, you......" Sighing helplessly, Bai Yiman rubbed the top of Qin Wan's head.

As the eldest sister, Bai Yiman has always been old, and her gaze at Qin Wan naturally brought the doting of the elders.

In her eyes, Qin Wan's reaction was normal. In the end, he is an unenlightened child, and he is still very wooden emotionally.

Whether it is the family or the conditions of the two, Qin Wan and Chu Fan are a match made in heaven, coupled with the friendship of childhood sweethearts and Princess Duan's protection of Qin Wan, Bai Yiman never thought that there was any other possibility between Chu Fan and Qin Wan, the reason why Qin Wan reacted so slowly was just because he had not yet started to fall in love.

Helplessly pinching Qin Wan's little face, Bai Yiman comforted: "Don't worry, anyway, the prince can come back before the New Year, and as soon as Xiaoding passes the New Year, your family affairs will be regarded as having passed the bright road." You'll be fifteen years old in a year, and your aunt will arrange everything after ......"

You're almost old enough to leave the cabinet.

Bai Yiman didn't finish the rest of the words, but Qin Wan guessed it.

"My mother wants to keep me for a few more years." Qin Wan said deliberately.

Bai Yiman looked at Qin Wan funny, "My aunt is the same as my mother, anyway, this is something that adults worry about, we just need to do our part." By the way, did you start embroidering wedding dresses? ”

Seeing Qin Wan's wrinkled face, Bai Yiman gloated and said, "It seems that you will be very busy after the New Year." ”

Qin Wan rolled her eyes.

She really hasn't embroidered a wedding dress.

The starting point in the previous life was too high, as the crown princess, she didn't need to prepare the wedding dress herself, it was all made in accordance with the specifications in the palace, and the gold and silver threads on it were extremely luxurious. In this life......

Qin Wan shook her head.

She doesn't need a wedding dress in this life.

A few people returned to the flower hall, and Mrs. Bai was talking with Bai Zhishui.

Since the old protector gave way, the two old men have been living in Zhuangzi on the outskirts of Beijing, and they have nothing to do to plant fields and raise flowers. In winter, Bai Huafeng was worried that it would be inconvenient for the two old men to be in Zhuangzi, so he took them back. On weekdays, when they were fine, the two of them teased the birds in the yard, and there was no one to talk to. The two sons are at the border, and the two daughters-in-law are busy with the affairs of the house and the children, and the old man does not want to distract them, as soon as Bai Zhishui comes, the old lady Bai immediately finds the person who speaks, and she is her favorite little daughter, the old lady Bai is in a surprisingly good mood, even the old man's face also has a few more laugh lines.

As soon as Qin Wan entered the door, Old Madam Bai immediately beckoned to her and motioned for her to come over.

Sitting next to Mrs. Bai, her little hand was held in her hand, Qin Wan enjoyed this warm moment very much.

I don't want to spoil this atmosphere, so I talked about some inconsequential gossip, and no one mentioned anything about the court and the border, and the atmosphere was very relaxed.

Compared with a few grandsons and granddaughters who have been dangling in front of her, Mrs. Bai is very partial to Qin Wan, among the grandchildren, Qin Wan's status is the highest, what does this mean, Mrs. Bai knows better than anyone else.

It's just a glamorous look, the higher the position, the greater the danger, although this is the old emperor's favoritism to Qin Wan, but it always makes people red, some people are red, and some people make it bad. As soon as she thought of this, Old Madam Bai was worried.

Before leaving, they finally coaxed Mrs. Bai and the old prince, and the mother and daughter returned to the county lord's mansion in a carriage.

Early the next morning, Bai Yong came.

Originally, Qin Wan wanted to call Bai Yong during the winter solstice, but because she and Bai Zhishui arrived at the Protector's Mansion, it was postponed for a day.

Bai Yong came to deliver Qin Ruizhuo's family letter this time.

The things sent back from the border will be sent to the Bai family army, and then delivered to the military families. Qin Ruizhuo's letters have always been in charge of Bai Yong, so Bai Yong went directly to the flower hall, and Bai Zhishui and Qin Wan were already waiting there.

Taking advantage of the time when Bai Zhishui and Bai Yong were talking, Qin Wan opened Qin Ruizhuo's family letter, read it quickly, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Since Uncle Bai is here, let's have lunch and leave."

Hearing Qin Wan's words, Bai Zhishui's hand holding the tea paused, and then handed it to his mouth as if nothing happened.

"Uncle Bai is just waiting for Jiaojiao's words." Bai Yong will also climb up the pole.

Bai Zhishui glanced at Qin Wan narrowly, Qin Wan pretended not to see it, and chatted with Bai Yong on his own.

Lunch is used in the flower hall, all home-cooked dishes, although Bai Yong is a foreign man, a little inappropriate, but Bai Yong is familiar with Qin Wan, and has a deep relationship with Bai Zhishui, so there is not so much attention. Because Qin Ruizhuo was not there, Bai Yong didn't even have anyone to drink with, but Bai Yong not only felt embarrassed, but also ate to the fullest, and didn't leave until he was full of wine and food.

As soon as Bai Yong walked on the front foot, Bai Zhishui called Qin Wan to the main courtyard.

Holding the consumption tea in his hand, blowing the tea leaves that have not yet been stretched out, Bai Zhishui didn't even give Qin Wan a straight eye.

Qin Wan didn't feel weak-hearted, and drank the diet tea beautifully after learning from Bai Zhishui's appearance, anyway, Bai Zhishui had something to ask her, and she was not in a hurry.

Looking at Qin Wanren's little ghostly appearance, Bai Zhishui finally couldn't help laughing, "Say, what do you want to do?" ”

"Nothing." Qin Wan replied honestly.

Bai Zhishui looked at Qin Wan with the eyes of "Do you think I will believe it", "Mother, I heard it very clearly, you used to call Bai Yong 'General Bai', but how long has it been, and you have been called 'Uncle Bai', why doesn't my mother know when you have such a good relationship?" ”

Qin Wan sticks out her tongue.

"Tell me, what the hell are you going to do?" Bai Zhishui asked again.

Qin Wan hesitated.

Bai Zhishui frowned, "Shouldn't you be ......?"

"Hey, hey." Qin Wan smirked.