Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty, a British government palace.
The sweltering heat of summer is unbearable, and the chirping of cicadas on the trees in the afternoon is even more disturbing.
Cui Jie was sitting under the shade of the cool trees in the small courtyard behind the Duke's Mansion, embroidering a picture of flowers and birds gently and quietly.
Magpies making noise on branches is quite auspicious.
After Li Qinzai led the army to the expedition, Cui Jie raised and educated her son at home. In addition to raising her second son Hongbi, she also had to supervise Qiao'er's schoolwork. In addition, she sat in the small courtyard and embroidered in her free time.
Cui Jie has embroidered no less than ten of the magpies' branches like today's one.
Nothing else, just for good luck. It is another form of praying for my husband who is fighting abroad. I just hope that my husband will be safe and without any injuries or disasters when he is fighting for the country.
Jin Xiang sat next to Cui Jie. She was not embroidering, but was holding a book in her hand and looking at it quietly.
In this boring afternoon, the two women seemed to be a little uneasy.
Cui Jie made several mistakes in her embroidery. Jin Xiang stared at the book and could not read a word on it.
After a long time, Cui Jie suddenly let out a soft cry. Jin Xiang looked quickly and saw that Cui Jie's finger was pricked by a needle, and a drop of bright red blood seeped out of the skin.
Jin Xiang sighed softly: "Sister, please be careful. You have already embroidered this picture of magpies making branches more than ten times. Why bother to embroider non-stop? Why not take a rest."
Jinxiang was actually not in the mood to read. Unknowingly, her husband had been on the war for more than half a year. Over the past six months, military reports from the front line continued to reach Chang'an.
Li Qinzai led his army to land in Japan, Li Qinzai put down the rebellion in the capital of Japan, Li Qinzai landed in Baekje, Li Qinzai swept through the eastern part of Goguryeo, etc...
One after another military reports reached Chang'an, and the people of Chang'an were excited, and news of good news arrived every once in a while.
Although Cui Jie and Jin Xiang were happy, they were also secretly worried, fearing that some bad news would come one day. They did not expect their husband to make much contribution, but only hoped that he would come back safely.
A maid walked quickly to announce that there were guests in the front yard. They were a group of disciples of Li Qinzai.
A pleased smile appeared on Cui Jie's lips.
After Li Qinzai led his army to the expedition, Li Sujie, Li Xian and other disciples could not neglect their studies, so Li Zhi ordered the doctors from the Imperial College to temporarily teach on behalf of Li Qinzai.
No one knows arithmetic better than Li Qinzai. Most of the courses taught by the Imperial College in the past six months were the scriptures of sages.
But for some unknown reason, Li Sujie and other disciples seemed to recognize that Li Qinzai was their master. They would often make Dr. Guozijian roll his eyes in class, but they would often come to the Imperial Palace in groups to visit the two master wives and give them some small gifts.
It must be the same today.
After tidying up her clothes, Cui Jie came to the front yard.
Li Sujie and other disciples stood neatly in the courtyard. When they saw Cui Jie coming out, all the disciples bowed respectfully.
Cui Jie smiled and said: "Sir, I have been away on the war for more than half a year. I haven't taught you any lessons during these six months. It's hard for you to still remember my master."
Li Sujie smiled and said: "Once you are a teacher, you will always be a teacher. My husband is fighting for the country on the front line. Disciples can't help much, but the etiquette is still indispensable. It is the duty of disciples to always ask for greetings from the master's wife."
Li Xian also smiled and said: "Master's wife, I will give you a small gift on behalf of my mother. The ice cellar in the palace knocked a few big pieces of ice today. My mother ordered the palace people to make iced sour plum soup, and asked my disciples to bring some to Master's wife, so that I can teach this girl."
A great relief from the hot summer heat.”
Cui Jie said hurriedly: "Thank you very much, Queen, for your concern. I am deeply grateful."
Li Sujie said solemnly: "Master, you don't need to be too polite. After my husband went to war, my father often said that the ancestors and grandsons of the Li family all fought for the country. It is a good story in our country. How lucky is my father to have the Li family full of loyal ministers and good generals to assist you, no matter what the heavenly family bestows."
No matter how great the honor is, the Li family can afford it."
All the disciples nodded in agreement.
Qi Bizhen on the side suddenly sighed and said: "I don't know when Sir will return to Chang'an in triumph. The military report said that the battle ahead was good. The old man Ying Gong is commanding Ruo De, our army is invincible, but the Goguryeo traitors are still resisting stubbornly. If
If we want to destroy our country, we may have to wait half a year."
Shangguan Kun'er, the youngest, sneered: "When my husband was here, I beat you the hardest, and you were the most beaten in the school. After my husband went to war, you missed him."
Qi Bizhen glared and said, "Sir, he beat me for my own good. He wanted me to become a talented person. I failed to live up to my expectations and deserved to be beaten. The more this happens, the more I miss your teacher's teachings. Don't you miss me?"
A group of disciples laughed and scolded each other.
Cui Jie couldn't help laughing and said: "Don't laugh at any of you. Your husband often says that these little bastards in the school want to hang you on a tree and whip you a hundred times a day..."
As she spoke, she looked at Princess Xuancheng, who was the silent one in the crowd. Cui Jie pulled her over, held her little hand and said with a smile: "Fortunately, you, a female disciple, are very up to date. She is even as good as the men in the scientific examination. She has finally grown up for her husband."
A face."
Looking at the disciples, Cui Jie said in the tone of a master's wife: "You guys, please learn more from Princess Xuancheng. Before you return to Chang'an in triumph, sir, you should review your lessons quickly. Mr. Teach will be impressed by you, otherwise the reunion between master and disciple will be difficult."
It won’t be too pleasant, and you don’t want your husband to whip you when we meet, right?”
Everyone was shocked, thinking of the master riding a tall horse and returning in triumph. When the master and apprentice met, the master raised his whip and beat them. This scene... seems not impossible.
So the disciples greeted Cui Jie one after another, and then hurriedly said goodbye and left.
After seeing off her disciples, Cui Jie returned to the backyard and sat in the shade of a tree in a daze.
I don’t know why, I am always restless today. I pricked my finger while doing embroidery, and the picture of the magpie branching is also ruined. The bright red blood drops are dripping on the black feathers of the magpie. I always feel that it is not a good sign...
…
Husband...when will you return?
…………
Goguryeo, outside Wugu City, the Tang Army camp.
Li Qinzai was in a coma for three days. During these three days, he was lost in the lake, woke up for a while, and then fell asleep.
He had a high fever, his ribs and back were burning, his left arm also hurt, and he seemed to have vomited blood several times.
I vaguely remember that there have been many people visiting his bed in the past few days, including familiar faces and unfamiliar faces.
After people visited with concern for a while, they left carefully and gently.
Li Qinzai seemed to be living in a dream these days.
In the dream, he seemed to be reliving his previous life in a fast-motion lens.
In the high school classroom, the teacher tried his best to impart knowledge hoarsely on the podium, while he passed small notes to the girl he liked.
Under the tree-lined avenue of the university, I ignorantly and shyly tried several times to hold the girl's hand, but in the end I didn't have the courage to take that step, and in the end I missed that gleam of white moonlight in my life.
Entering the society, becoming a social beast, becoming thick-skinned and sophisticated, shamelessly flirting with female colleagues, the female colleagues' cheeks are red, the kind of ambiguity of exchanging glances, tacit understanding comes naturally, it seems that something is gained, but always
I feel like something is missing.
Every dream was so clear. He could clearly see the appearance of every passerby in his life, but he could not see his own features.
After being half asleep and half awake for several days, the confused Li Qinzai finally opened his eyes.
At first glance, he saw Xiao Baga waiting beside his bed.
Seeing that Li Qinzai finally opened his eyes, Xiao Baga, who was extremely haggard, covered his mouth in surprise, and then burst into tears.