After seeing Tang Zhuyun and Linlin off outside the city, Mingzhu returned to her residence.
Xiu'er waited for her at the door with red eyes. When she saw her return, she asked in a muffled voice, "You're gone?"
"Hmm." Mingzhu nodded. "It's windy outside, let's go inside and talk."
Xiu'er's face was red from the cold; she had been standing at the door for who knows how long.
Mingzhu reached out to take her hand, and sure enough, it was ice-cold. She was touched and sighed silently.
"I just suddenly remembered," Xiu'er said, "Did Your Majesty bring enough medicine to stop lactation? It must be very painful for your breasts to engorge on the road..."
"It's alright, my sister-in-law is a doctor herself," Mingzhu said, feigning ease. "But seeing you like this is what worries me. Xiu'er, we should all try to look on the bright side. My brother and sister-in-law are in charge of the overall situation in the capital."
"Yes, Mingzhu, you're right!" Xiu'er sniffed. "Let's go see the children."
Wuxian and Guagua are both well-behaved, but Wuji is always misbehaving and keeps touching Wuji.
The key is that this little one is too clever and perceptive. Knowing that her mother and Xiu'er are not around, she cries at the top of her lungs, which frightens the wet nurses.
Mingzhu was busy taking care of the children in the mansion and managing all the affairs of the household, so she forgot about Wu Zhenhai's matter.
Wu Zhenhai was actually very generous; before leaving, he gave her a stack of silver notes that totaled 20,000 taels of silver.
Mingzhu has already put it away and plans to return it to him when she has time.
Because of this busyness, it was put on hold.
Meanwhile, Wu Zhenhai was quite dejected for several days after Mingzhu "left".
He used to go to Tao Ma's place often, but when he thought of Manniang's face, he didn't want to go anymore.
It's just drinking, isn't it?
Can't he hold a banquet at home?
After getting drunk for three days at home, Wu Zhenhai felt he had let go of the past.
There are countless women in the world, how could they not live without Mingzhu?
He's living a better life, surrounded by women on both sides!
He went to the stables himself, led out his own horse, and patted its head. "Old buddy, now I'm the only one left."
Pah! What kind of talk is that? It sounds like a complaining husband.
"Come on, let's go out for a stroll. Let's have some fun today! I'll pick out two, no, four little mares for you. You can choose whichever one you like!"
He did nothing today but go to the horse farm to walk the horses.
As soon as he stepped out the door, his subordinates rushed over and stopped him, saying that two soldiers had gotten into a fight over a girl.
"Why don't you beat these bastards to death!" Wu Zhenhai cursed.
Are all the women in the world dead? Why does it have to be just that one?
It would be one thing if they killed one less person, but the problem is that they each gathered their own comrades, and now they're staging a brawl in the street!
Wu Zhenhai was already in a bad mood, and after hearing about this, he became even more furious.
He mounted his horse, cracking his whip and snarling, "I'm going to see who's got a death wish!"
None of them will escape; they will all be punished with military rods.
Beat them until they cry for their parents, confine them to bed for a month, and see who dares to start a gang fight then.
Returning soldiers? They're even more hated than bandits.
When Wu Zhenhai arrived on horseback, the fighting was still going on!
A large crowd of local residents gathered around to watch the spectacle and cheer.
--There's no way around it, the border town is warlike, men, women, young and old are all like that.
"Stop it, all of you!" Wu Zhenhai roared angrily from his horse.
His voice was like thunder. The crowd, who had been so arrogant, thinking "Don't Zidu try to persuade me, I'm going to beat these bastards to a pulp today," all stopped and lowered their heads sheepishly when they heard Wu Zhenhai's voice.
Wu Zhenhai started cursing. "You all think you're all grown up now, huh? How can you take military pay to fight for women? Is that something to be proud of? Why weren't you the ones who stood out when we were charging into battle?"
Someone protested, "General, there may be right and wrong in fighting, but when it comes to charging into battle, I have never backed down!"
Who can be a coward in front of the girl they love?
Another one said in a gruff voice, "Me too!"
Wu Zhenhai: Damn it, there's not a single good thing.
What girl would be blind to fall for two idiots like you?
"What's a grown man like you, lacking a wife?" Wu Zhenhai retorted. "How can you behave like this in the street? Have you no shame?"
Meanwhile, the carriage had been stopped for a long time, and Mingzhu, growing impatient, couldn't help but lift the curtain to look ahead.
Wuji always cried at night, so she went to the temple to pray to Buddha. She has gotten better in the last two days. She plans to go and fulfill her vow, and also donate some money for incense oil.
Unexpectedly, on the way back, we encountered some thugs causing trouble and were stuck there for a long time.
She's in a hurry to go back and help take care of some children!
Wu Zhenhai, sitting high up, had a wide view, and when he looked up, his eyes met Mingzhu's.
He froze, then rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Still there?
He rubbed his eyes hard twice more, until they were red.
Is the person gone?
It turned out that Mingzhu lowered the curtain when she saw Wu Zhenhai.
He's there; traffic should be back on track soon.
Unless he's the one causing trouble.
The subordinates, who had been thoroughly scolded and were hanging their heads in dejection, suddenly saw their commander-in-chief spurring his horse forward like a madman.
Everyone: "???"
Wu Zhenhai forced his way through the crowded throng and reached Mingzhu's carriage.
Yes, it's her.
He knew all the coachmen from the Prince's residence!
Without a second thought, Wu Zhenhai reined in his horse, leaped onto the carriage, and climbed inside.
Mingzhu: "... What's wrong with you?!"
There are so many people watching outside!
Wu Zhenhai froze, then grinned. "You, you couldn't bear to leave me, so you came back?"
Mingzhu: "It's not even dark yet, and you're already dreaming."
"Then why did you come back? You're such a hypocrite; it must be because of me."
"I didn't leave, so how could I say I'm coming back?" Mingzhu said. "Go to the Prince's mansion to get your 20,000 taels of silver later."
"I don't want it! You lied to me; this can't be settled with just 20,000 taels of silver."
Mingzhu was speechless. "How did I lie to you? I didn't say I was leaving, yet you insisted on giving me the silver. Besides, it was a gift from an elder, so how did it become me lying, Uncle Wu?"
Uncle Wu was rebuked, but he was still so agitated that he became incoherent. "You, you little liar!"
"Get down here right now!" Mingzhu pushed him away. "You may not care about your reputation, but I do!"
Overcome with excitement, Wu Zhenhai's voice rose uncontrollably. "I don't care about shame, I just want you!"
Everyone outside could hear it clearly.
General, may I ask you, is this a slap in the face?
The next moment, the general scrambled out of the carriage, grinning like a fool.
Seeing everyone's gaze, Wu Zhenhai blushed, then put on a serious face again. "What are you looking at? Move along!"
Everyone burst into laughter.