"If I can't trust such a minister, who else can I trust among the civil and military officials of this dynasty and all the people in the world?"
After being silent for a long time, Zhao Shen just murmured, "I believe that Shen Tang and I will become Emperor Zhaolie and Zhuge Kongming, and become role models for all generations to be admired by future generations.
Moreover, if Shen Tang can help me regain my homeland, why should I be grudge to the prince!"
New Year's Eve!
Xiang Ling had already told her family to get ready. Red lights were hung high inside and outside the courtyard, and she was beaming with joy!
In the flower hall, all the girls are dressed in gorgeous clothes. As the saying goes, they are fat and thin, so beautiful!
Xiangling sat upright and sat at the head of the seat. Shao Mu said, and the two daughters, Wanyan Yue, saluted Xiangling first and said, "Greetings to my sister. I wish my sister good luck and good health!"
"Cui'er, Yun'er, why don't you help your two sisters up quickly! They are all your own sisters, how can you be so polite!"
The two girls smiled and bowed again, then stood up and sat next to Xiang Ling!
Then Lian'er led Yun'er, Zhu'er, Murong Yu, and Ayi sisters to bow down together and give the girls another New Year's greeting!
The three Xiangling girls stood up, took out a big red seal and stuffed it into the hands of the other girls!
"Sisters, hurry up and take your seats!"
Before the girls could sit down, Xiao Nianli emerged from nowhere, pulling a small rice ball and lying on the ground, bowing her head and babbling incomprehensibly.
In an instant, all the girls in the flower hall burst into laughter!
The two little ones are all dressed in red, just like two little people stepping out of New Year pictures. They are so cute that you can't put it down.
"Hurry up and pick up our children!"
Xiangling laughed loudly, "Our children have grown up, and we know how to celebrate the New Year. This year, our family should have a few more children."
The two little babies were directly hugged by Zhu'er and Murong Yu. Although they didn't know what was going on, they were obviously extremely happy with the festive atmosphere.
"Lu Feng, Qian Hong... I wish you ladies well!"
Outside the flower hall, a deafening sound came!
The former old butler Zhang Yifu returned to Zhang Jun after Zhang Jun came, and Lu Feng had been in charge of Chengdu Mansion, so he concurrently held the position of chief steward in the mansion.
Nowadays, there are quite a lot of people in Shen Mansion!
In addition to the women, there are dozens of maids, maids, nuns, and nuns waiting in each room. No outsiders are allowed to enter the backyard easily, so they are all women inside and outside!
Some of these women were sent here from their parents' families. For example, the people in Muyu's room were basically the old people of the Shao family.
Some of them are hired by kind people locally.
Whether it is these maids or ordinary women, being able to work in the Shen Mansion is a happy thing.
The master of Shen's mansion is kind and generous, and his salary is very high. Even if he works as an ordinary maid for a few years, he will be able to find a good family to marry when he leaves the mansion.
Needless to say, the servants and guards in the mansion are all part-time guards of Shen Tang, commanded by Qian Hong! As for the servants and servants at home, they are also reliable people chosen by the women.
Now, there are probably about two hundred people inside and outside the mansion!
Xiang Ling waved her hand, and the woman standing at the door immediately shouted loudly, "Madam, please stand up, thank you!"
A dozen women came out carrying trays full of gold and silver and distributed them to everyone!
"Thank you Madam for the reward!"
"Madam has ordered us to hold a banquet in Osmanthus Pavilion!"
Osmanthus Pavilion is located next to the wing in the front yard. The place is not small, but it is enough for a hundred or ten people to gather for a banquet!
Everyone paid their respects again, and then led by Lu Feng and the others back to the front yard.
Finally, under the guidance of Aguo and Yan Rui, a group of maids and mothers-in-law also paid homage to the girls!
Xiang Ling told Lian'er to hold a banquet in the left and right halls after appreciating it!
After the ceremony was finally over, Xiang Ling looked around at the girls and said, "Now my husband is away fighting and cannot return home, but you sisters should know that all our glory now was obtained by our husbands who fought to the death! We should keep it safe for our husbands.
At home, don’t let your husband worry about trivial matters at home! Let’s toast our husband with this first glass of wine!”
Let’s all have a drink together!
"This second glass of wine is for you sisters! If the back house is harmonious, your husband can rest assured! Although we sisters have different statuses and different origins, our fate is here! Our Shen family is not like other princes' families.
It's so complicated and dirty, sisters, you should also guard yourselves. If anyone dares to do evil things at home, don't blame my sister for being ruthless!"
Invite everyone again!
"This third glass of wine is a tribute to our parents! After having the little rice balls, I realized how hard it is to be a parent! To be able to be where we are now, we must remember the kindness of our parents in giving birth!"
After three drinks, the atmosphere at the banquet became more relaxed. Xiangling smiled again and said, "Last year was a happy year for my Shen family!"
"Yu'er and her daughter have returned with an extra little rice ball, which makes my Shen family a little bit richer! After your husband comes back, you sisters should also work hard!"
Xiang Ling's words made the girls shy and full of expectations. Having children is a hardship but also a hope. However, the girls had obviously already envied Xiao Nianli and Xiao Fantuan'er.
Compared to home, New Year's Eve in the military camp seemed a lot more wild!
Starting from the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the chefs in the army began to slaughter livestock to prepare for the New Year feast!
Starting from the morning of the thirtieth day, Shen Tang inspected the troops! At noon, Tianshui County, Xihe Prefecture, Chengzhou and other nearby state capitals also sent people to bring wine, meat and other new year gifts.
It is customary for the soldiers to guard the pastoral side, and the local officials and people to pay respect.
Although the camp is not decorated with lights and colorful decorations like at home, it is still filled with the feeling of celebrating the New Year.
The soldiers patrolling the camp would shrug their noses from time to time, smelling the aroma of wine and meat coming from nowhere! For ordinary soldiers, it was indeed a joy to have such a feast.
After Shen Tang inspected the troops, the military celebrations began.
In addition to the soldiers on patrol and the soldiers stationed in all directions, tens of thousands of other soldiers gathered on the campus!
The soldiers are divided into armies, and the types of activities are also diverse! For example, games such as Cuju and sumo wrestling, and horseback archery competitions.
The two armies competed, and the cheers of one or two thousand people were deafening. Even those usually calm generals were shouting with thick necks and grinning mouths.
In fact, it is not unusual for some to give up their armor and compete with generals.
Those who win are proud of themselves, while those who lose directly scold their mothers!
At sunset, the entire camp was lined with torches, illuminating the entire camp that stretched for miles! And the cheerful soldiers were still having fun!
Until the long tables were carried out by the brothers from the kitchen camp, and the large pots were set up along the edge of the school field, finally attracting the attention of these people again.