Cai Wei came out of the front hall, walked quickly through the east verandah, and came to the door of the upper room:

"Master, San Langjun is now in the front hall of the inner courtyard, saying that I have something important to tell you."

The day of the lunar month is the coldest time of the year.

It was indeed too cold in the courtyard, and the bitter cold wind swept through the bare treetops, hissing and whistling.

A few sparrows perched on the ridge of the roof, huddled into a ball one by one.

After Cai Wei finished speaking, she immediately tightened her shoulders and put her hands to her mouth to breathe hot.

His feet kept going back and forth, as if he could really withstand the cold outside.

A gentle and soft voice came from the room:

"Cai Wei, you go back to San Lang, I'll go over after a while."

Cai Wei listened to the instructions of the mistress, answered the promise, and immediately turned around and returned to the front hall.

In the upper room, a brazier rises in the east room, and warm air fills the entire room.

On the Luohan bed facing the window in the south, a young woman sat on a pillow, holding a copy of the Book of Han and looking at it casually, as if her mind was not in the book.

This young woman is in her twenties, combing her black hair, applying a little powder, lightly sweeping her moth eyebrows, and her eyes are bright and calm.

He wears a turmeric narrow-sleeved short jacket on the top, a white auspicious cloud flower on a blue background, and a long skirt with black beads on a red background.

That demeanor is both graceful and luxurious, but also elegant and dusty, and has the demeanor of a woman from a family.

In the middle of the Luohan bed, there is a red sandalwood carved phoenix scroll, on which is placed a lacquer box, in which snacks and food are placed.

The two maidservants next to them were sitting on the bed, sewing baby clothes.

The young woman put down her book and said to one of the maidservants:

"Yuhan, help me down, let's go to the front hall to see what is going on with San Lang."

Hearing the words of the master's mother, Yuhan hurriedly put down the needle and thread in her hand, stood up and helped her out of bed.

He said, "Mistress beware, don't dodge." ”

When the young woman was on her feet, Yuhan walked over to the hanger and took off a purple fox fur cloak to drape it over her and fasten the belt.

Another servant girl, Shuxiang, picked up the mink sleeves on several cases and handed them to the young woman.

The young woman took the sleeve and wrapped her hands, and Yuhan walked out of the door slowly with her right arm in her arms.

Shuxiang followed behind him with a hand-held stove.

The maidservant Mo Zhu who stood at the door opened the curtain.

A cold wind suddenly blew in, choking Mrs. Changsun almost out of breath.

Yuhan hurriedly asked, "Mastermother, are you okay?" You're not in good health, why don't I go and invite San Langjun to the room to talk back? ”

The young woman smiled and said, "I'm fine, let's go." ”

The three men went out of the upper room and walked slowly west along the verandah to the antechamber.

Cai Wei, who was waiting at the back door of the front hall, saw the three of them coming, opened the door curtain, and invited Mrs. Changsun, Yuhan, and Shuxiang to enter.

------

On the right side of the front hall, a young man sat cross-legged, looking about twenty-three or fourteen years old.

This young man Langjun wore a black soft-footed head, a brocade yellow fox fur robe, a black leather belt around his waist, and a green ring-shaped jade pendant hanging on the left.

It is the so-called light fur costume, an image of a child of an aristocratic family.

It's just that he lacks the upright and handsome that young people should have, and his body is slightly fat.

His eyes were covered with red threads, and his face was white and yellow, as if he had just woken up from a hangover.

When the young man saw the young woman enter the hall through the back door, he hurriedly got down from the low couch and stood with his hands crossed.

Then he made a deep gesture and said, "Mother is fine, San Lang has asked you to be safe." ”

After greeting him, the young man stood with his head bowed and his hands crossed.

It seems to be cautious, but he raised his eyelids to peek at the young woman's movements.

Yuhan helped the young woman to take a seat in the middle of the hall.

Shuxiang put the handstove on several cases.

When the housewife sat down steadily, the two stood on the left and right.

Probably because the front hall was not occupied, it was a little empty.

Although there was also a brazier, it was not as warm as in the upper room, and the young woman felt a little cold.

She didn't ask Yuhan to help untie the cloak, but took off the mink sleeve and held the stove in her hand, feeling much warmer.

She rubbed her hands lightly on the stove and smiled slightly.

That demeanor is not dignified as an elder, but it does not seem too cold.

said: "San Lang, sit down." What do you want to discuss with me? ”

The young man Lang Jun did not sit down, and replied, "Thank you mother for giving you a seat." I have other things to do, so I'll leave when I'm done with them, so I won't disturb my mother's rest. ”

The young woman was not reluctant, and asked, "What is the matter?" ”

The young man raised his eyes and glanced at the young woman's beautiful face, as if he was afraid of touching her gaze, and immediately lowered his eyelids again.

He bowed his head and said: "I received a letter from my father today, which said that he would return to Beijing on the 12th day of the lunar month, and there are still three days to go. ”

"I don't know what my mother tells me about picking up the wind for my father?"

The young woman remained as reserved as she could, and the expression on her face was calm, and there was no excitement or joy to tell.

After a little contemplation, he said:

"You should first send someone to inform your eldest uncle, third uncle, and uncle today and inform you of the date of your return to Beijing. Da Lang is not at home, you have to talk to Erlang, Da Niang, and Erniang, so that they can also know the news of your father's return to Beijing. ”

The young man replied, "Okay." ”

The young woman continued: "On that day, we will arrange for a competent servant to ride a fast horse to find out the exact time of your father's return to Beijing, and then you and Erlang will take someone to Tonghuamen to greet you. ”

"In the evening, please invite your uncle, third uncle, and uncle to come to the house, arrange a banquet in the outer courtyard, and wash the dust for your father, and you and Erlang will accompany you."

"Also, don't forget to arrange the food and lodging of the entourage, so as not to lose your father's face."

The young man replied: "According to my mother's instructions, I will make proper arrangements." ”

The young woman said, "Then there is Lao Saburo." ”

The young man Lang Jun made a gesture with his hand: "Say goodbye without a constitution." ”

The young woman smiled and nodded as a return salute.

Cai Wei lifted the door curtain, and the young man Lang Jun exited the front hall of the inner courtyard and walked out of the second door along the west verandah.

------

This beautiful young woman is the step-wife of the Great Sui Zuoxun Hussar General Changsun Sheng-Gao Qiuniang.

The young man Lang Jun, who just called Gao Qiuniang "mother", is the third son of Changsun Sheng, the eldest grandson Wuxian.

His biological mother is the eldest grandson Shengfa's wife, Qi Gan.

Seeing that the eldest grandson Wuxian came out of the front hall of the inner courtyard, Gao Qiuniang said, "Let's go back to the room too." ”

Yuhan and Shuxiang hurriedly stepped forward to help Mrs. get up from the couch and walked out of the front hall together.

Back in the upper room, Yuhan first helped his wife untie her cloak, and then helped her sit on the Luohan bed.

Shuxiang hugged a big pillow and let Mrs. lean on.

Gao Qiuniang didn't speak, and took a few cases of "Hanshu" and read it.

Seeing that Mrs. Yuhan and Shuxiang didn't speak, they began to sit on the bed and be a female celebrity.

Gao Qiuniang held the book in her hand, but she didn't read a word.

When I think of marrying a man who is thirty years older than me, I have a lot of thoughts in my heart.

At that time, I was young and didn't understand anything, I only knew that marriage was the order of my parents and the words of the matchmaker.

In the era of strict patriarchal law, women pay attention to "three obedience and four virtues", and daughters' marriages are decided by their parents.

The marriage between the families of the family, in essence, is to consolidate the power and status of the family, and the love of concubines can only be a luxury for the unmarried women of the family.

Gao Qiuniang married into the Eldest Sun General's Mansion seven years ago, when she was only thirteen years old, and the eldest Sun Sheng was forty-three years old, a difference of thirty years.

The stepchildren are all older than Gao Qiuniang, so her status as a clan wife in this family is a little embarrassing.

At that time, Changsun Sheng had three sons and two daughters.

Yuan Pei Gan's three sons, the eldest grandson Wuxian (the word Anye), and the second daughter Erniang.

The concubine gave birth to the eldest son, the eldest grandson Wunai (the word Xingbu), the second son, the eldest grandson Wuyi (the word Anshi), and the eldest daughter.

Even the youngest of the stepchildren, the eldest grandson Wuxian, is three years older than Gao Qiuniang.

All three stepsons are married, and two stepdaughters are married.

's father married a stepmother who was younger than himself, and the eldest grandson Wuxian was very dissatisfied, he thought he was the son-in-law of the family, and he didn't take this stepmother younger than himself in his eyes at all.

Before Gao Qiuniang got married, the Gao family had already realized that this sister-in-law would become a big trouble for Gao Qiuniang in the future.

However, due to the support of the eldest grandson, the eldest grandson Wuxian also had to be respectful to Gao Qiuniang on the surface.

Fortunately, Changsun Sheng is both civil and military, not only the generosity and boldness of military generals, but also the romance and elegance of literati.

Since getting married, Changsun Sheng has been very fond of Gao Qiuniang, there is the love and sweetness between husband and wife, and more to give her is fatherly love and care, although the relationship between this family is very complicated, Changsun Sheng does not let her be hurt in any way.

Slowly she fell in love with this man deeply, Changsun Sheng's image in Gao Qiuniang's heart became taller and taller, more and more admired and admired him, and her attachment to him became deeper and deeper, she couldn't do without this man who was thirty years older than herself.

Today's eldest grandson Sheng has become her protector and her spiritual sustenance, and her heart is full of thoughts and concerns for him, hoping to stay with him all the time.

But nine times out of ten, life is unsatisfactory, and it is difficult to ask for everything to go smoothly.

If the eldest husband wants to make meritorious contributions, he has to give up the warm tent of Jinjin and the gentle township, and the general should serve the field.

Changsun Sheng was a peaceful Turk and had been stationed in Saibei for many years.

Husbands and wives often get together less and leave more, and they stay together for less than a year in five years.

------

In April of that year, the Turkic Bujia Khan invaded the border of the Sui Dynasty.

Emperor Wen of Sui ordered Yang Guang, the king of Jin, and Yang Su, the right servant of Shangshu, to send troops from Lingzhou.

Yang Liang, the king of Han, and Long live the history of Zhuguo sent troops from Shuozhou to attack Bujia Khan.

Changsun Sheng was appointed as the commander of the Qinchuan march, and led the Turkic annexed troops as the vanguard, and set out with Yang Guang, the king of Jin.

In this expedition, Changsun Sheng made great contributions.

He was familiar with Turkic folk customs and knew that all his men and horses needed to drink the spring water, so he offered to have people scatter poison on the upper reaches of the spring.

Many Turks and animals were poisoned to death after drinking water, and the people fled in panic overnight.

Changsun Sheng led his troops in pursuit, killing more than 1,000 Turks, capturing more than 100 people, and thousands of six animals.

In May, Changsun Sheng returned to Beijing with Yang Guang, the king of Jin, and Emperor Wen of Sui awarded Changsun Sheng the title of "Kaifu Yi and Three Divisions".

After receiving the seal, Changsun Sheng did not stay in Jingduo, and due to the need to appease the newly annexed Turkic people, he returned to Shuozhou Dali City again that month.

Changsun Sheng has been gone for more than half a year.

Last month, Changsun Sheng wrote to him that he would return to Beijing at the end of the year, but did not set a specific time.

Now that she has Zhun Xin'er, from the bottom of her heart, Gao Qiuniang really hopes that Changsun Sheng can stand in front of her immediately. But in front of her stepson, she still suppressed the excitement in her heart.