Reborn After Widowhood – Chapter 194
Chapter 194 – Epilogue 1
The spring of tenth year of Yuanyou,
Hua Yang heard that her mother was unwell and brought her daughter to the palace to visit her.
“Grandma, what’s wrong with you?”
The six-year-old Princess took off her shoes and snuggled up to Empress Dowager Qi, asking her in a well-behaved and sensible manner.
Empress Dowager Qi looked at her granddaughter’s face. Her delicate eyebrows and fair skin seemed to be carved from the same mold as her daughter, naturally she liked her more and more. She smiled lovingly and said, “As soon as Xiao comes, Grandma feels comfortable everywhere. Don’t worry.”
Bao Jia was the title of County Princess given by Emperor Yuanyou to his niece. Xiao Jiu was the nickname Hua Yang gave to her daughter because she was born on the Double Ninth Festival.
Bao Jia knelt behind her grandmother and massaged her shoulders.
Empress Dowager Qi was surprised and said, “Xiao Jiu can also massage?”
Bao Jia: “Daddy taught me.”
Hua Yang looked out the window. Chen Jingzong, that frivolous man, even fooled his young daughter. He came back from the guard station and pretended to have backaches on purpose, and then ordered his daughter to honor him.
Empress Dowager Qi guessed that there was a story behind it when she saw her daughter’s expression. She smiled and continued to talk to her granddaughter: “Daddy went to fight outside. Does Xiao Jiu miss him?”
Bao Jia: “Yes, Mom said that Daddy and his men will soon finish the battle and will come back in the summer.”
Empress Dowager Qi: “Well, your daddy is very powerful. He followed General Qin and the others to disperse the Houjin.”
The tribes of Houjin were originally loyal to the court and had to pay tribute every year. But last year they proclaimed themselves as a country and attempted to rebel against the court. The court sent 250,000 troops and 50,000 Chariot Battalion to suppress them.
Chen Jingzong also volunteered to go with them.
The war had been going on for almost a year. The Houjin had been retreating step by step and had fled out of Korchin Mongols. The court would re-establish guard station in the area south of Korchin Mongols and north of the Great Wall to guide the people to live and work in peace.
This battle not only severely damaged the vitality of the newly emerging Houjin, but also frightened the other grassland tribes such as Tatar, making them afraid of the power of the court’s firearms and divine weapons, and dared not cause trouble again.
Even Bao Jia knew the power of firearms: “Uncle can use a fire gun to shoot sparrows.”
Empress Dowager Qi and Hua Yang frowned. Using a fire gun to shoot sparrows was not a glorious thing!
.
Little Bao Jia stayed with her grandmother for a while and then took Wu Run out to find her uncle.
Emperor Yuanyou was in the imperial study. He had just finished reading a batch of memorials and was about to take a break.
His niece came at the right time. Emperor Yuanyou taught her how to play ball.
He dug a small hole in the floor of the Imperial Study and got two round golden balls about the size of eggs. They would roll the balls along the ground toward the hole with their hands, and whoever got their ball in first would win.
Bao Jia loved this game. The uncle and niece had a great time, crouching on the floor and rolling the balls.
Cao Li came in and saw this scene. He turned a blind eye and reported: “Your Majesty, Cabinet Elder Chen and Cabinet Elder He want to see you for something.”
Emperor Yuanyou suddenly felt a headache.
Bao Jia was very happy: “Grandfather is here!”
Emperor Yuanyou quickly covered his niece’s mouth and hushed: “Don’t make a sound. If your grandfather knows that you come to the imperial study to play, he will get angry.”
Bao Jia blinked. Would grandfather still be angry?
Emperor Yuanyou carried his niece back to the chair, let her hide under the table, and stuffed her with a plate of cakes.
After he done that, he asked people to summon the two cabinet elders.
Chen Tingjian and He Qingxian came in while arguing. When they saw Emperor Yuanyou, the two saluted. He Qingxian wanted to argue again, but Chen Tingjian flicked his sleeves and said coldly: “There’s no point in saying more. Please let His Majesty decide.”
Emperor Yuanyou: “What’s the matter?”
He Qingxian: “Your Majesty, regarding the selection of in this spring examination, Cabinet Elder Chen Ge Lao and this minister really can’t agree.”
After saying that, he presented two examination papers.
Emperor Yuanyou took a quick look and found that both candidates answered very well. One emphasized practicality, while the other focused on ideals.
He could also guess which candidate the two cabinet elders supported.
Emperor Yuanyou chose not to offend anyone: “Zhen can’t make a decision either. The two cabinet elders can debate it, and Zhen will listen to whoever can convince Zhen.”
He Qingxian immediately began a long speech.
Chen Tingjian didn’t want to waste his breath on him, but not debating was tantamount to admitting defeat, so he had to argue back.
When neither could convince the other with reasoning, He Qingxian, in a moment of agitation, was about to roll up his sleeves.
Chen Tingjian shouted angrily: “In front of His Majesty, what do you want to do?”
He Qingxian was not afraid of making a fool of himself, but he had no desire to lose composure in front of the emperor. He had taught Emperor Yuanyou for twenty years. If it weren’t for He Qingxian making trouble repeatedly, he would still be the esteemed teacher in the emperor’s eyes, with a celestial demeanor, calm and collected, and always confident in his decisions!
He Qingxian was about to speak when a little girl in a skirt suddenly emerged from under the desk. The little girl pounced directly on him and pushed him hard, then ran to Chen Tingjian, stretched out her hands to protect Chen Tingjian, glared at him while saying, “You are so bold, you’re not allowed to bully my grandfather!”
He Qingxian:…
Chen Tingjian looked at Emperor Yuanyou in shock.
Emperor Yuanyou coughed and said to his niece: “Xiao Jiu, that’s Cabinet Elder He, you are not allowed to be rude to Cabinet Elder He.”
Bao Jia snorted: “He scolded my grandfather, I don’t like him, Uncle, drive him away!”
He Qingxian:…
A smile flashed across Chen Tingjian’s eyes.
He Qingxian looked at the angry little princess and knew that he could not argue about the Huiyuan. He snorted, “This minister will retire first. Your Majesty, Cabinet Elder Chen and the little princess can enjoy some family time together!”
After that, the old man bowed his head and left.
Emperor Yuanyou put the cakes back on the table and let his niece continue to eat. He looked at Chen Tingjian helplessly: “Sir is obviously the chief examiner this year, why did Cabinet Elder He see the test papers?”
Chen Tingjian was also helpless: “He suspected that this minister would favor those who flatter the new policy. This minister didn’t allow him to see it, so he accused this minister of being unfair.”
Emperor Yuanyou: “He’s just being unreasonable.”
Chen Tingjian thought, why didn’t you say that in front of Cabinet Eldet He just now?
“Grandfather, you try it too.” Bao Jia took a piece of cake and said to her grandfather.
Chen Tingjian immediately smiled and bent down to take it. However, the cake was crisp and flaky, prone to crumbs. Chen Tingjian looked at the cake, then at his long beard, finding it quite difficult to eat without making a mess.
Emperor Yuanyou was calm and unruffled: “Why don’t you eat, Sir?”
Chen Tingjian had no choice but to turn his body sideways, ate the cake with his head tilted as much as possible, and quickly checked his long beard after eating.
Bao Jia came around and looked at her grandfather intently.
Chen Tingjian touched the little princess’s head: “Xiao Jiu, go back after you finish eating the cake. The imperial study is where your uncle studies and governs the country. You have to be sensible.”
Emperor Yuanyou:…
The stinky old man must be pointing at mulberry tree but cursing at locust tree, saying that this emperor is not sensible enough!
Chen Tingjian took his leave.
Emperor Yuanyou held his niece on his lap and whispered to her about all the harshness and injustice that Cabinet Elder Chen had treated him in the past: “If you don’t believe me, wait until your father comes back and ask him. Your father is not too fond of your grandfather either.”
Bao Jia: “But Mom said that my grandfather has to care more for daddy because he is ignorant. Eldest Uncle and Third Uncle are all very sensible, and my grandfather is very gentle to them.”
Emperor Yuanyou: “Your mother is the most partial.”
Bao Jia nodded seriously: “Daddy also said Mom is partial. Mom will not scold me if I get my hands dirty, but she will dislike Daddy if he is sweaty. She won’t even let him hug her.”
Emperor Yuanyou: …
How unrefined is his good brother-in-law!
.
In early Sixth Month, the army returned victoriously.
Emperor Yuanyou took his own princes, niece, and civil and military officials out of the city to welcome them.
The sun was scorching, and Bao Jia was still sweating under her uncle’s canopy. At this time, she finally understood why her mother chose to stay in the palace and wait there. It turned out that picking people up was not fun at all.
Finally, dust was flying in the distance, and the army was getting closer and closer.
Riding a tall horse and walking at the front was the commander-in-chief Qin Yuantang, the number one tiger general of this dynasty who was nearly sixty years old. Wearing armor with a strong back and waist, he looked majestic and didn’t show his old age at all.
Chen Jingzong lagged behind by half a horse length. The thirty-four-year-old Prince Consort had broader shoulders and a more majestic body. His handsome face was slightly tanned after a year of fighting on the battlefield, but it looked more heroic and resolute.
“Daddy!”
Bao Jia shouted excitedly when she recognized her father.
Chen Jingzong ignored Qin Yuantang and rode out of the line, rushing to three feet away from the imperial procession, then dismounted and saluted Emperor Yuanyou first.
Emperor Yuanyou smiled and said, “Dispense the curtseying, Prince Consort.”
Chen Jingzong stood up, ran over, caught his six-year-old daughter, and kissed her tender little face hard!
Bao Jia noticed the beads of sweat rolling down Daddy’s handsome face, the layer of dust on Daddy’s armor, and the smell of sweat on Daddy’s body!
But Daddy was smiling so happily!
The six-year-old princess kept smiling so as not to make Daddy sad, but she couldn’t hide her disgust for the sweat.
Chen Jingzong: …
He had only been away from home for a year, but his daughter was becoming more and more like Hua Yang in her fussiness!
“Prince Consort is probably tired. Please leave the princess to this servant.” Wu Run said respectfully, with the handkerchief in his hand quietly ready.
Chen Jingzong looked at his daughter and knew that she also wanted to go, so he had to fulfill her wish.
Wu Run secretly helped the little princess wipe her face.
Bao Jia lay on Wu Run’s shoulder, looked back, and saw her eldest uncle and third uncle standing among the civil servants. It was clearly scorching hot, but the two uncles were still look so handsome and didn’t look smelly at all.
However, her father was still the best. After her father took a bath, she would hug him!
There was a celebration banquet in the palace. It was not until the end of the banquet and the family got on the carriage of Grand Princess Mansion that Chen Jingzong finally had the opportunity to get close to his grand princess and little princess.
Hua Yang covered her nose with a round fan and called her daughter: “Daddy misses you, go and talk to him.”
Bao Jia also raised her small round fan: “Daddy has hugged me outside the city, now it’s time for Daddy to hug Mom.”
Chen Jingzong was about to reach out.
Hua Yang glared at him.
Chen Jingzong: …
He sat there feeling aggrieved all the way home. After he got off the carriage, he left the mother and daughter behind and went back to Qifeng Hall first. When Hua Yang and her daughter came over slowly, Chen Jingzong had already taken a shower with two buckets of water and changed into a clean robe. His long hair that was tied with a cloth belt was still damp.
“Smell it. Daddy doesn’t stink anymore.” Chen Jingzong picked up his daughter and smiled a mouthful of white teeth.
Bao Jia leaned close to Daddy’s collar and sniffed hard. Sure enough, it didn’t stink anymore.
Chen Jingzong asked Hua Yang again: “Grand Princess, do you want to smell it too?”
Hua Yang glared at him.
Chen Jingzong coaxed his daughter first.
It was hot in the afternoon, and the heat made people sleepy. Bao Jia fell asleep quickly and was taken away by Wu Run.
Chen Jingzong picked up the grand princess who was dozing on the couch, and said in a hoarse voice as he walked: “Let’s go to the room to sleep.”
But his strong body seemed to be hotter than the bright sun outside the window. He tightly grasped the grand princess’ legs, and seemed to want to tear the thin layer of Shu brocade.
“Do you miss me?”
He threw the grand princess onto the bed and pressed on her like a hungry tiger pouncing on a sheep.
The grand princess turned her head and said lightly: “No.”
Chen Jingzong smiled, holding her wrist with one hand and cover her flushed face with the other: “Whether you miss or not, I will know after we do it.”
lol .. bao jia is literally miny hua yang, going to the imperial study to play, beign fussy and spoiled by everyone
CJZ: Did you miss me?
Shu Brocade: hell no