My Stepmother is Soft and Charming

Chapter 2 The general returns

"There are many rules in the Duke's Mansion, so naturally you have to be more cautious. But when the general comes back, he will definitely take the young lady back to the house to pay respects to the master. Then they can go out together. The young lady will wait and see."

 When it comes to the general, Du Jingyi's face does not show any longing for her husband's return, but rather a bit of reluctance.

 After all, who would miss a husband who hastily left a sentence of "Cezhou is in danger" on their wedding night and has never even met him?

So he lifted up the soft brocade quilt covering his body and planned to get up.

Chingtao hurriedly stepped forward to help her put on her thin brocade shoes, and then helped her sit down on the kang.

Outside the bright window, the lingering autumn rain is still falling.

Du Jingyi stood up and walked to the corridor, reaching out to catch a few drops. It was cool, but not as cold as winter rain.

 Compared to the four seasons of spring, summer and winter, Du Jingyi likes autumn the most, if not for any other reason, just because autumn is a time of harvest.

Melons and fruits are fragrant, and the grain is abundant.

 The most important thing is that the dowry in her hands will usher in a new wave of growth due to the autumn harvest.

 Merchant families value profit the most.

 In this regard, she lives up to her reputation.

Therefore, in other people's eyes, the fallen leaves are falling and the geese returning from the north to the south, but to her, it is the prosperity of "one grain of millet planted in spring and ten thousand grains harvested in autumn".

Du Jingyi smiled with a crooked eyebrow, and then said.

 “Let’s go to the backyard and see what we’re going to eat today?”

After saying that, the three masters and servants walked along the corridor to the backyard.

Her husband in name only caused some embarrassment to herself, but it also brought some benefits.

 For example, the Xitang Courtyard where they live.

The place is large and the location is good. There is also a small garden in the middle of the front and back yards.

 Thus, during the three years when there was no need to deal with people like the Duke of Guo, Xitang Courtyard was carefully rearranged by Du Jingyi, and it could be said that it had a completely new look.

Although she was born a merchant, she has good taste.

 I spent several years in Jinling City with my parents when I was young, so I have subtly incorporated a lot of the elegance and charm of Jiangnan people. Therefore, it was quite easy to decorate the Xitang Courtyard.

The entire Xitang Courtyard is divided into two front and back courtyards.

There are three main rooms, two side rooms on the left and right, and a row of back rooms at the back for the use of servants and women. Behind the main house is the backyard, with a small martial arts training ground and a garden.

 In the past, the garden was full of weeds and flowers, which was not interesting to watch, so it was drastically changed by Du Jingyi.

Famous trees and flowers from the south of the Yangtze River were brought from outside, and some rockeries and stone platforms were built high and low.

Not only did they dig a pond, but it was also filled with pebbles.

There are water lilies floating on the pond, and there are dozens of golden koi carps in it, some are as big as a palm, and some are as long as an arm, but each one looks very lively, adding a lot of agility to the garden. feeling.

 The martial arts training ground was once used by her "husband in name only".

Although he was not at home, Du Jingyi did not move.

 So apart from being swept by people every day, it looks a little out of place and old-fashioned in the small garden.

After bypassing the martial arts training ground, we came to an open space that was originally covered by an awning, where we put some miscellaneous old things.

Du Jingyi thought it didn't look very good, so he asked Butler He to find a few neat young men and women to come over and turn them into vegetable plots. They planted seasonal vegetables in clusters.

Not far away is the small kitchen of Xitangyuan.

Hence, their yard can be considered self-sufficient in vegetables.

It is densely surrounded by fences. If you don't happen to come here, you really won't notice it. After walking around the veranda a few times, the master and servant arrived at the vegetable garden.

Danruo, who was busy in the small kitchen, making food for Du Jingyi, saw them, wiped the water on his hands, and walked out.

 The air after the rain is filled with a faint smell of earth.

There were some raindrops on those vegetable leaves. Looking more and more delicate, Du Jingyi pointed to the hanging eggplant and said.

 “That’s it!”

 “Yes, young lady.”

The person who answered was Dan Ruo. He has a round face and a slightly chubby figure, but he has a harmonious temperament between his eyebrows and eyes. At first glance, he is a solid-eyed person.

 When she got married from the Du family, she brought a total of four maids and a mother.

Cherry, Lizhu, Danruo and Luju, the first two are mainly responsible for serving her in the inner room, Danruo is in charge of the small kitchen, and Luju is in charge of the needlework in the entire yard.

He is currently leading people in the embroidery room to make a new batch of winter clothes for Xitang Courtyard.

Mama Cai, brought by her parents' family, has become a good helper for Aunt Dou, the person in charge of the yard.

Now, I never miss a moment in the front yard staring at the people sent by Mrs. Wei to deliver things.

Du Jingyi just had some ideas about today's dinner in his mind. As he was talking to Dan Ruo, he saw Cai's mother, who was supposed to be guarding the front yard, running over in a hurry, with a lot of joy on her face.

 “Young Madam, Young Madam…the general is back…”

Du Jingyi was a little surprised when he heard this. Didn't he say that it would take another two days?

 Why is it so fast?

 But now is not the time to delay, so he gave the order.

“There’s no need to prepare dinner. We’ll probably eat it at Yunjin Courtyard. Let’s stew some Danruo tonic to clear the lungs and replenish qi. The general is riding back all the way, and his throat must be very dry due to the dust.”

"Yes, don't worry, young lady, I will take care of it!"

After explaining this, Du Jingyi quickly returned to the main room.

 After simply tidying up, he stepped out of the gate of Xitang Courtyard.

 …

 Outside the west city gate.

With flags flying, the 400,000 Tigers and Guards troops rushing to aid Cezhou had embarked on their way back to the DPRK two months ago.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers traveled thousands of miles and finally arrived at Sui'an City in early September.

　　The prince and the civil and military officials who had been waiting at the city gate for a long time were also excited.

When I saw the army marching neatly and powerfully in the distance, my blood boiled with excitement.

The Daxing Dynasty had only been established for a few decades. Naturally, there were strong enemies externally and chaos internally. Therefore, military generals with outstanding military achievements such as Shang Ji had a very high status.

Whether it is the father's family, the Shang family, or the mother's family, the Gu family, they were all the founding ministers who followed their ancestors to conquer the world, so they gained this full family glory.

 He is now the Daxing God of War who is better than his master.

 Wherever the sword points, it is invincible.

Sitting astride the war horse Mo Feng, it can be seen that its whole body is shining with oil, and it is like an ink brocade coming towards the wind.

Shang Ji, who was dressed in military armor, stared resolutely ahead. The thick armor wrapped his strong figure very tightly, adding a bit of power.

Sharp eyebrows and stern expression.

Even if you don’t say a word, it still makes people feel stressed.

 Prime Minister Guo, who was standing next to the prince, burst into tears when he saw this scene. He pinched the beard under his chin and said.

 (End of this chapter)