Chapter 152 Feng Xiang’s love

The New Year of Xuanren's second year came as scheduled. This was the first New Year after the new emperor ascended the throne. The autumn was ripe and the joy of good weather reached its peak in the New Year. Every household was busy making rice cakes, making rice wine, burning firecrackers, and setting up peach stems. The entire Tang Dynasty was immersed in the joy of welcoming the New Year.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, this is a day when you don’t go out in the old customs. The fatigue of staying up to the New Year makes most people still sleep soundly. The light snow all night long, thinly spread a layer on the ground, and the pine branches are crystal white, as if it is a world of jade trees and jade branches.

A group of people came from afar on the official road west of Fengxiang. To be precise, it was a long cavalry, with about 700 cavalry and more than 200 spare empty horses. There were several carriages mixed in between the cavalry. This was naturally Zhang Huan and his party who returned to Beijing to report their duties. On December 24, they set off from Wuwei County, sleeping all the way day and night, and finally saw the majestic Fengxiang City Wall.

The first person who was surprised and shouted was Pei Ying's maid Xiaoqiu. This was a little girl who was extremely sensitive to tall buildings. She lay on the car window and looked at the majestic city walls, constantly exaggerating exaggerated amazement. Not only Hua Jinxiu, who was riding with her, but even the soldiers next to the carriage couldn't help laughing.

"Girl, you can shut up." Pei Ying's laughter came from the cold wind. Xiaoqiu lowered her head embarrassedly and retracted her into the car.

"I left home and returned to my eldest son, but my hometown accent has not changed and my hair has faded......"

Pei Ying was sitting in a carriage in the front. She was dressed like a flower, as if the morning glow was coming. At this moment, she was chanting He Zhizhang's famous quotes. She felt excited and had only been two months away, but she felt that many years had passed. She was a willful and charming girl when she ran away, but when she came back, she became a mature and steady young woman. All of this seemed to be in a dream.

"Governor! Fengxiang's defenders agreed to enter the city, General Chen has confirmed that it is correct."

In the distance, a personal soldier rushed over, and the report interrupted Pei Ying's thoughts, and her eyes fell on Zhang Huan's tall back.

"Notify brothers to enter the city!"

"Yes!" Lin Jiuhan then loudly ordered the soldiers to start entering the city.

As usual, Zhang Huan decided to have a few jokes with her after entering the city, but he rode forward, not only now, but also along the way, as if he was hiding from her.

Looking at Zhang Huan's back as she was leaving, Pei Ying's beautiful eyebrows frowned slightly. Although her father had agreed to her marriage, she felt a little uneasy in her heart when she returned from Beijing in a hurry. This uneasy came from Zhang Huan's emotional change. Since she returned from Kaiyang County, she discovered Zhang Huan's subtle changes. He lacked a passion, and there was always a hint of melancholy in his eyes. At first, she thought it was Yang Feiyu who took advantage of her when she was away. She quietly asked the personal soldiers and realized that her lover had not given her a chance. Later, Zhang Huan returned from the negotiations in Kaiyang County, and the melancholy in her eyes became deeper. She had only rested for a day and rushed to Chang'an.

Only then did Pei Ying vaguely guess that her lover's emotional changes were most likely related to Cui Ning.

Jealousy is the essence of love and also the nature of women. Pei Ying is no exception. She doesn't want anyone to share her lover. No matter who this person is, she also knows that she cannot monopolize Zhang Huan. A man with a broad mind cannot have only one woman. Since the day Pei Ying decided to follow Zhang Huan to leave Chang'an, she knew that Cui Ning would come to her sooner or later. She was mentally prepared. She did not reject Cui Ning, but she did not want Zhang Huan to pay too much attention to this matter. She likes a hero who should have great ambitions, do great things, and start a foundation, rather than socializing all day long under the moonlight in front of flowers and wandering in the pomegranate skirt.

It should be over to Cui Ning's place. Pei Ying made up her mind secretly and wanted to find an opportunity to persuade Zhang Huan.

While meditating, the team began to accelerate and slowly entered Fengxiang City.

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Fengxiang is a bridgehead to enter Guanzhong from Longyou. Its strategic position is very important. It is also the second largest city in Guanzhong after Chang'an. It has a large army and a dense population. According to Cui Xi Pei Dong's power layout, Fengxiang is controlled by Cui Yuan and stationed with 50,000 troops. The current Fengxiang Jiedushi is Cui Qinggong, but Cui Qinggong is also the General of Jinwu Guard and stationed in Chang'an. Therefore, Fengxiang's daily military affairs are mainly managed by Li Mo, the deputy commander of the Jiedu.

Generally speaking, the Fengxiang Army did not interfere in local government affairs. The miscellaneous matters such as passing through the city and checking documents were completed by the regiment train under the governor of Fengxiang County. Only teams with more than 800 people were investigated by the army. However, Li Mo received a special order from Cui Yuan that soldiers from Longyou, Hexi and Lingwu must report to him immediately when entering Guanzhong. No matter how many people the defenders must strictly inspect them.

Therefore, Zhang Huan's procedures for entering the city were particularly cumbersome. He checked the official documents of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, counted the number of people entering the city, and checked the weapons he carried (for foreign troops entering Chang'an, only swords are allowed, and long weapons and military crossbows are not allowed to be brought in). After nearly half an hour of busyness, he was put into Fengxiang City.

"Governor Zhang! I'm following the usual behavior, and I've offended you." Next to the city gate, Li Mo, deputy envoy of Fengxiang Jiedu, apologized to Zhang Huan. Cui Yuan just ordered him to conduct strict investigations, but there was no other special request. After all the inspections were not violated, he let Zhang Huan enter the city as usual.

Zhang Huan also bowed and smiled, "Deputy Envoy Li is loyal to his duties and acts according to the rules. Zhang Huan has any complaints. When I leave the customs, I hope General Li will take care of him!"

"Of course, Governor Zhang takes care of himself all the way."

A quarter of an hour later, a pigeon letter flew to Chang'an quickly, 'Zhang Huan returned to Beijing to report his duties, guarding 800 cavalrymen."

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It was still early at this time, and Fengxiang City was very quiet. There were few pedestrians on the streets, and most of the roads were covered with thin white snow, and no one had stepped on them. Only the peach stalks hanging in front of every household and the sound of firecrackers from time to time in the city made people feel that today is the New Year.

This is Zhang Huan's third time to come to Fengxiang. The first time was to participate in the imperial examination. The second time was to follow Zhang Potian. This is the third time. Compared with the panic and embarrassment of the previous two times, this time he has become much calmer. Now, he is already commanded by more than 10,000 troops and has his own territory. He can be regarded as a prince. Although he is still very weak and the place is very deserted, on the large chessboard of power layout in the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Huan has become a chess piece that is neither light nor heavy.

This time when he returned to Chang'an, he returned to Beijing to report his work at the request of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, but this kind of work report is not mandatory. If the government is busy, you can not come. Many local officials postponed it on the excuse of being busy with government affairs. But on the other hand, the families of many local officials are in Chang'an, so this kind of work report is actually a disguised welfare, giving officials the opportunity to return to Beijing to reunite with their families.

Of course, Zhang Huan had to return to Beijing both public and private. He wanted to join Pei Party and obtain Pei Jun's support in order to obtain the necessary food and strategic materials for Hexi's development, and even population migration, which was necessary for the westward development; on the other hand, it was for Cui Ning.

"Governor!" A personal soldier chased after him, "Madam has something to come to you."

Zhang Huan turned around and saw Pei Ying poking out the car window and waving to him. He smiled and rode his horse to meet him, "Ying'er, is there anything wrong?"

Pei Ying pursed her lips and smiled, "Today is New Year. Do you plan to pass the disease on the road?"

Zhang Huan was stunned. Seeing that the soldiers' eyes were full of hope, he suddenly realized in his heart. He couldn't help but admire her carefulness, so he ordered Lin Jiuhan: "Brothers are tired of rushing on the road. Today I will take a day off in Fengxiang. Take a few brothers to find the inn."

Lin Jiuhan was overjoyed. He hurriedly took a few people there. Pei Ying was happy when she saw him listening to his opinions and whispered: "We left Wuwei in a hurry and didn't buy anything for my father. You can accompany me to take a walk later."

Zhang Huan smiled and nodded in agreement. After a while, Lin Jiuhan hurried back. It was New Year's Day, and people rushed home to reunite. Most inns had a light business. I heard that eight or nine hundred people stayed in the hotel, and the inns were fighting for business. He took care of five large inns in one go without any effort, all on the same street.

The arrival of the army made the whole street lively. Some people started to open the door to sweep the snow. Groups of children were running and playing on the street in new clothes. There were more pedestrians on the street, and Fengxiang City began to regain its usual hustle and bustle.

An hour later, dozens of cavalry guarded a carriage and drove out from the back door of the inn and headed towards the Beishi not far away. Fengxiang's Beishi is equivalent to the East City of Chang'an. The market's goods are mostly high-quality luxury goods and many shops, but most of them were not open at this time. The entire Beishi was deserted and there were only a few snow-washing servants busy on the streets.

"Get sick, otherwise we'll go for lunch first." Pei Ying felt a little disappointed when she saw that the shops were almost closed. She saw that a restaurant not far away had already opened, so she smiled and said to Zhang Huan: "Today is New Year. I'll have a few glasses of wine with you. What do you think?"

"Okay!" Zhang Huan smiled, urged the horse to go up first.

The restaurant was also deserted, with no diners. The shopkeeper lazily lay on the counter and napping. Several waiters were cleaning the shop. Seeing a large group of people coming in, this was the first batch of customers this year. You must not leave. The shopkeeper immediately came up with a lot of energy. While scolding the waiter to take care of the horse, he nodded and smiled: "Welcome to the shop to eat at the shop. The shop has delicacies, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and the prices are fair, so you can be satisfied."

"Let us find a large suite, which has a single elegant room."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The shopkeeper agreed repeatedly. He led everyone to the second hug and came to a magnificent large room with a separated small room inside. With the window, you could see the street outside.

After a while, all kinds of delicacies were served like flowing water. The soldiers had already started to eat without hesitation. The outside was laughing and it was very lively. In the elegant room, Pei Ying saw two little maids standing aside. She smiled and said to them: "You two go out to eat! I'll come here by myself."

Hua Jinxiu immediately reacted and pulled Xiaoqiu out.

Pei Ying closed the door, she glanced at Zhang Huan, and saw him looking at the street with his hands behind his back and pondering, she couldn't help but bit her lower lip gently, stretched out her slender jade fingers to pick up the wine pot, and poured a glass of wine. Her slender willow waist swung left and right to walk to Zhang Huan's side, and said with a slight smile: "This is the first glass of wine in the New Year, Ying'er toast you."

"Thank you, Madam!"

Zhang Huan smiled and took the wine glass, looked at her affectionate eyes, and poured her a glass of wine, "I'll give you a glass too."

As he said that, his arms bent slightly and made a font. Pei Ying immediately understood. Her face turned red and she shyly picked up the wine glass and walked through his arm. The two of them tied their arms and slowly drank the wine in their glass.

Pei Ying sighed happily, rested her head on his shoulder, and said coquettishly: "Get sick, why are you so cold to me these days? Do you don't want to marry me again?"

"How come I don't want to marry my Ying'er? Where did you think of it!"

Zhang Huan smiled and shook her head, looked down at her and said, "I want to tell you something, but I don't know how to speak, so I feel a little bored these days."

"Is it for Cui Ning?" Pei Ying asked quietly.

Zhang Huan was stunned, and then he smiled bitterly and said, "So you know."

"How could I not know about such a thing?" Pei Ying's eyes fluttered and she gave him a blank look and said, "I am a woman. Women are the most sensitive to such things. It only depends on you being in a hurry to rush back to the capital. I'm worried about it these days, so I guessed seven or eight points. Who else can you do except for Cui Ning?"

Zhang Huan stood up and walked to the window. He stared out the window. After a long time, he said hatefully: "I have made a vow to heaven and earth that I will marry Cui Ning in this life. I originally asked her to wait for me for two years, but I heard that Cui Yuan had already promised her to Wang Yan and would get married after the Yuan Dynasty..."

Speaking of this, Zhang Huan suddenly turned around and looked at Pei Ying deeply and said, "Ying'er, you and Cui Ning are both my love. If you lose any of you, I will regret it for life. I don't want to make you sad, but I don't want to make her sad."

Pei Ying slowly walked forward, hugged his waist from behind, and gently pressed her face on his back, "Get sick, do you know? I just like you like how you are now. No matter how difficult things are, they can't stop your determination. This is the man in my mind!"

"You..." Zhang Huan was a little surprised. He didn't expect Pei Ying to answer like this.

"Do you think I will cry and make a fuss and threaten to death in the end?" A sly smile flashed in Pei Ying's eyes. She pouted her plump mouth and said aggrievedly: "Who told my husband to have a gloomy face all day long, show me his face, dare I not agree?"
Chapter completed!