My vicious dog, my horse, I can do whatever I want with it

Chapter 175 The incomprehensible style

Zong Yanli paused for a moment, and then said after a moment of silence: "I'll go with you tomorrow."

"Really?" Zong Yanyin's eyes suddenly lit up.

"I will go to the army early tomorrow. You pack up at home and I will come back to pick you up." Zong Yanli looked at her and said with a smile.

"That's a deal!" Zong Yanyin was extremely happy.

This year, when Zong Yanli returned home, Zong Yanyin specifically discussed with Wei Songhe that they would not spend the New Year at her husband's house. She wanted to invite her parents-in-law over to celebrate together. Wei Songhe has also been busy with court affairs these past two days, and as the New Year is approaching, he always has to settle the year-end matters.

Wen Nian follows Zong Yanli in and out all day long, and now everyone in the mansion is very familiar with Wen Nian.

Even Wen Nian's residence was arranged in Zong Yanli's courtyard, and today was no exception. When Zong Yanli got up and was getting dressed, he heard the voice of Wen Nian talking to someone outside.

"Deputy General Wen, I'll go and deliver clothes to the young general." The maid standing at the bottom of the stairs said to Wen Nian, holding the washed clothes.

"Give it to me." Wen Nian stretched out his hand to take it.

"No need to trouble Deputy General Wen, I can take it in." The maid said with a slight bow, with a bit of nervousness and anticipation on her face.

"..." Wen Nian narrowed his eyes and stared at the maid, his eyebrows coldly said: "No one is allowed to approach the general, give it to me."

There were no fixed servants in Zong Yanli's yard, only servants who served tea, water and cleaned the yard. She did not allow anyone to enter her room, let alone serve her personally. Even when fetching water, Zong Yanli had to wash herself.

But Zong Yanli is extremely handsome, and his heroic demeanor is somewhat attractive.

Moreover, Zong Yanli has never been married and doesn't even have a maid to warm his bed. How could the young maids in this mansion not be moved?

He tried every means to bring Zong Yanli in all day long, but Zong Yanli did not stay in the mansion all the time, and there was always a big Buddha like Wen Nian guarding the door, making it impossible to bring him in.

After a while, Zong Yanli saw Wen Nian with a bad look on his face. He walked in with clothes in his arms, leaned over to Zong Yanli and said, "General, I'll put the washed clothes in your suitcase."

"Yes." Zong Yanli tied up his hair casually, then turned around and said, "Next time someone wants to come in, let them in."

"General..." Wen Nian was stunned and looked up at her.

"We have to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, so that these people will stop thinking about it." She is not an indecisive person. Instead of pushing and pulling and blocking, it is better to solve the hidden trouble directly.

Don't think that she is good-tempered just because she is not in the army. Since she has set the rules, they are her rules.

Those who disobey her, don't blame her for being ruthless.

Wen Nian understood immediately, in his opinion, Zong Yanli was very gentle to everyone in the Zong Yan Mansion. This was her home, and he thought Zong Yanli would not want to make too much trouble. Therefore, although Wen Nian felt annoyed when dealing with those maids who tried to get close to Zong Yanli again and again, he did not say any words of reprimand.

Zong Yanli put on his military armor and did not even have breakfast. On his way out of the house to the military camp, he bought two sesame cakes.

When Zong Yanli entered the military camp with a sesame bun in his mouth, Long Feiguang was already leading the soldiers in training on the parade ground. Even though there was no war at the moment, the daily martial arts training never stopped.

"General." Long Feiguang saw Zong Yanli coming towards him.

"Those who stay will spend the New Year in the army?" The soldiers who received rewards and travel expenses went home one after another. Now half of the remaining soldiers in the army are homeless. Zong Yanli sighed.

"Yes." Long Feiguang nodded, and then said: "As for the brothers who died in the battle, the pensions and subsidies have almost been settled."

Zong Yanli nodded and invited Long Feiguang into the tent to talk. Some of the injured soldiers were homeless, and Zong Yanli had to find a way to resettle them. Because of this matter, Zong Yanli went to the palace several times, submitted memorials and proposals, and waited for approval.

After all this trouble, it will take until after the New Year to settle down, and it will also be a hassle to get pensions for the soldiers who died in the battle.

Although Zong Yanli had made great military achievements, he came to Beijing this time and asked for money everywhere. The court officials were naturally dissatisfied, so it would take some effort to win him over.

"There is one more thing." Long Feiguang glanced at Zong Yanli and said a little embarrassedly: "There are too many brothers in the army who have never married. This matter of marriage..."

Zong Yanli was silent for a moment. As a general, her job was really hard and she had to worry about the soldiers' family life.

Fortunately, this is not the first time. As a general in my previous life, I was also troubled by this.

She thought for a moment and said, "After the Lantern Festival next year, we will hold a martial arts competition. I will talk to Concubine Gao and see if we can invite girls from various embroidery workshops to watch the competition."

"Then let the brothers seize the opportunity themselves, and the palace maids can also go and ask, and we'll solve as many problems as we can." Zong Yanli poured himself a cup of tea and said, "You too, after the mansion is settled, there will inevitably be matchmakers coming to propose marriage."

"If there's someone you like, finish this important life event as soon as possible." Zong Yanli looked at Long Feiguang and said.

"The general himself has not yet married..." Long Feiguang said with a little embarrassment, lowering his head.

Zong Yanli waved his hand and said, "Why should I worry? I have already adopted a son, and it is enough for him to take care of me in my old age and see me to the end of my life."

Zong Yanli stood up and said, "I will not stay in the army today, you watch over me."

Long Feiguang stood up and bowed in acceptance.

When Zong Yanli finished dealing with military affairs and hurried back home, Zong Yanyin had been waiting for a long time. Looking again, he saw the half-grown children following him. Zong Yanli sighed silently, turned around to change into casual clothes and followed them to the street.

Zong Yanli felt a little awkward sitting in the carriage. Zong Yanguanghe stared at Zong Yanli eagerly, and he looked obedient and cute with his dangling legs.

Zong Yanli sat upright, looking straight ahead. When the carriage stopped, he got off impatiently. He breathed a sigh of relief, as the carriage was really uncomfortable to sit in.

"Let uncle carry her down." Zong Yanyin first handed Wei Shiyan to Zong Yanli, who hugged her with one hand and then stretched out his other hand to carry Zong Yanguanghe down as well.

She held the two children under her arms and put them on the ground with great ease. Then she turned around, took Zong Yanyin's hand and helped her out of the carriage.

Zong Yanyin looked at the hand held by her brother, her face full of joy, as if at this moment in Zong Yanli's eyes, she, like the two cubs, were children who needed care.

As the New Year approaches, the streets are bustling with people coming and going.

As the territory of Wu State expanded in recent years, the trade routes became increasingly open, attracting many merchants to settle in, and the capital became much more prosperous.

Zong Yanli looked at the little kid standing next to him and was really afraid that if he took a few more steps, the child would be stepped on.

"Madam!" Wei Songhe came hurriedly and bowed to Zong Yanli, saying, "Brother, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Wei Songhe smiled, bent down and picked up Wei Shiyan, leaving Zong Yanguanghe alone to stand.

Zong Yanli looked down at the little kid, then reached out and picked him up, letting him sit on his shoulders and said, "Hold on tight."

Zong Yanguanghe exclaimed, and his soft little hands quickly hugged Zong Yanli's head. It was the first time he sat on his father's shoulders, and he seemed to see a completely different scenery.

"Dad, I'm so tall!" Zong Yanguanghe danced with joy.

"..." Zong Yanli almost dropped the child because of the boy's call of "Dad".

Zong Yanyin looked at this scene with her hands covering her mouth and laughing. She seemed to see Zong Yanli's embarrassment and blinked, leaning over and whispering, "Brother, you've become a father before you even get married."

Zong Yanli glanced at her helplessly, and Zong Yanyin smiled even more. He took them to buy New Year's goods. Occasionally, when passing by a stall, he would buy some snacks or toys for the children. Zong Yanli just treated himself as a bodyguard.

While carrying the child, she also had to carry large and small bags.

There were many people on the street, so there were naturally many peeking eyes. They saw that Zong Yanli and his group did not dare to approach them easily.

Wei Songhe would occasionally meet two or three familiar faces, but he was not disturbed.

Zong Yanyin went to buy some fabrics, so Zong Yanli put the child down and let him walk around the store.

"General Zong Yan!?" At this moment, a cry of surprise came from behind. Zong Yanli raised his eyebrows slightly and turned his head to look, then he saw Ning Chi striding towards him with a happy face.

"Are you really the general?" After not seeing each other for many years, Ning Chi, who was still full of youthful vigor, is now wearing a long gown and brocade robe. He no longer looks like a teenager and seems much more stable, more and more like the official in his previous life.

"Ning Chi?" Zong Yanli was also a little surprised and called out with raised eyebrows.

"Hello, General." Ning Chi was very excited. He had heard the news that Zong Yanli had returned to Beijing a long time ago. He wanted to visit him several times, but he was not there, or he was too busy to get away. This delay lasted for a long time, and today they met in this way.

"It's been a long time since we last met. The general hasn't changed at all." Ning Chi looked at Zong Yanli with great admiration, gazing at her eyebrows and eyes with a smile on her face.

"General, what are you doing..." Ning Chi turned around and greeted Wei Songhe and Zong Yanyin and his wife. Seeing them carrying large and small bags, he said with understanding, "I guess you are here to buy New Year's goods?"

"Yes." Zong Yanli nodded and said, "I'm busy today. Come to my house and meet again when you are free another day."

"Okay, it's settled then." Although Ning Chi had a lot to say, he also knew that Zong Yanli didn't get along well with his family members and it would be a shame to disturb them too much, so he sensibly made an appointment to have a drink and reminisce next time, and then bowed to say goodbye.

Zong Yanyin waited until everyone left before saying, "This is Master Ning, right?"

She blinked and said, "She looks about the same age as my brother. I heard that my wife is about to give birth?"

Zong Yanli turned back in shock: "Ning Chi got married?"

Zong Yanyin nodded: "Of course I'm married. Unlike my brother who spends all day on the battlefield and doesn't even think about getting married..."

Zong Yanli choked up and became more and more afraid of his own sister. How could he bring up the topic of her getting married in just a few words?

I had almost finished buying New Year’s goods, so I took what I could carry myself. If there were too much, I asked the store to deliver it to Zong Yan Mansion. After a round of shopping, I went home.

Zong Yanguanghe, who had got the new toy, took Wei Shiyan to play in the yard. The wet nurse and the servants were watching them. Zong Yanli and others sat in the hall drinking tea. Wei Songhe said that he had something else to do, so he left after sitting for a while.

"General, the emperor summons you to the palace." A eunuch came to the door with a message. Zong Yanli only drank two sips of tea and went back to the palace.

"Has the emperor's condition improved?" Zong Yanli asked the eunuch who came to deliver the message when he went to the palace.

"No, it's the Imperial Concubine who wants to see you about something." Since he was sent by the palace, he must be Gao Jiayue's confidant, so he told Zong Yanli honestly.

Zong Yanli guessed in his heart that it was probably about Gao State's affairs.

She lowered her eyes and stopped talking. After entering the palace, she was not led to the Zhaoming Palace, but to the imperial concubine's bedroom.

Zong Yanli frowned slightly. Although she was a woman, her current identity was that of a man. Wouldn't it be a bit of a scandal for her to walk into the imperial concubine's bedroom so brazenly?

"General, please come in." Gao Jiayue's voice came from the hall.

Zong Yanli took a deep breath, lowered his eyes and walked in. As soon as he walked in, he saw Gao Jiayue lying barefoot on the imperial concubine's soft couch. This scene really made Zong Yanli's heart alarm bells go off. He turned sideways to avoid her sight and said, "The imperial concubine has not yet dressed up. I am waiting outside."

When Gao Jiayue saw Zong Yanli was about to leave, he quickly sat up and said, "General!"

She bit her lip and said, "There is no outsider here, why is the general trying to avoid me like this?"

Zong Yanli: “…”

Now she finally understood that there was something wrong with Gao Jiayue.

"Etiquette cannot be abolished. Your Majesty is a noble concubine and I dare not look down on you." Zong Yanli spoke in a cold tone. He strode out of the hall regardless of Gao Jiayue's obstruction and refused to go in no matter what.

In the hall, Gao Jiayue angrily threw away the handkerchief in her hand, called the maid to come over and help her put on her shoes and socks, and made sure that there was nothing wrong with her, then asked someone to call Zong Yanli back in.

Zong Yanli stood in front of Gao Jiayue with his head bowed, and without even raising his eyelids, he asked, "What is the matter that the Queen has summoned me for?"

Gao Jiayue felt unhappy and said with some resentment, "Is there nothing wrong so I can't see the general?"

"After so many years, how come the general still seems so unromantic?" Gao Jiayue stood up and walked towards Zong Yanli.

"Your Majesty, please respect yourself." Zong Yanli tensed his back and took a step back.

"..." Gao Jiayue's face froze. She clutched her sleeves and stared at Zong Yanli, saying, "General, why are you so afraid of me? Now the world belongs to you and me. Does the general dislike me?"

Zong Yanli frowned and looked at Gao Jiayue, whispering, "Your Highness, you are second only to the emperor and above all others. Why do you trust me so much?"

Gao Jiayue bit her lip and looked at her: "General, can't you see what I mean?"

Gao Jiayue said as she walked closer to Zong Yanli, reaching out her hand to touch Zong Yanli's chest. Zong Yanli was so frightened that he took three steps back. His mind was in a mess, and in a flash he suddenly said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I already have someone in my heart."

"What?" Gao Jiayue stopped and looked shocked.

"My heart is with someone, and I dare not disrespect the Imperial Concubine." Zong Yanli's face was tense and his eyes were cold as he spoke.

Gao Jiayue was extremely stunned, and at this moment all kinds of emotions seemed to surge up in her.