Wrapped In Golden Branch - Chapter 36

Chapter 36
But the Prince Consort was full of vigor and vitality

The next day, at the capital’s guard station.

Yesterday, Pei Yizhi took a day off to attend the birthday banquet of Empress’s mother, Mrs. Zhou. As usual, he tied the horse in the stable and strode to the office. A loud male voice came –

“Your Highness is so lucky. You come to work for three days and dry the net for two days. You come and go freely.”

Pei Yizhi came solemnly and rode hurriedly, still carrying the coldness of the early winter morning. Hearing this, he did not say anything. His expression was cold and indifferent. Except for the Princess, he treated everyone in the world indifferently. He was unwilling to say a word unless necessary and was reluctant to explain even if he was wronged. In fact, except for taking yesterday off to enter the palace for the banquet, Pei Yizhi had never missed a duty. He traveled back and forth between the Princess Mansion in the east of the city and the northern suburbs garrison daily, which was more troublesome than those soldiers who stayed in the garrison.

The eccentric man was now called Zhao Junyi, a fifth-rank commander, slightly lower than Pei Yizhi’s fourth-rank commander. Moreover, Pei Yizhi was also a second-rank general of cavalry, so his position in the army was naturally far higher than his. However, if Pei Yizhi had not appeared halfway, Zhao Junyi would have been one of the commanders in several garrisons in the capital. In addition, Zhao Junyi was the top scorer in the martial arts examination in the 22nd year of Yuanxi and was once one of the most popular candidates for Prince Consort. Because he was too burly and acted too recklessly, Li Kangning didn’t select him. At that time, Li Kangning secretly complained about Zhao Junyi, saying, “He was strong in limbs but simple in mind.” But now the Prince Consort Pei Yizhi was a strong and tall general like him. Combining the two matters, Zhao Junyi naturally found Pei Yizhi annoying no matter how he looked at him and lamented why there was someone better than him.

He said again strangely: “Alas, we can’t compare with the Prince Consort. I was just too straightforward just now. Please forgive me, Prince Consort.”

The face of the region commander next to him, Lord Liao, became even more gloomy after hearing this. After a long time, Lord Liao said: “Okay, stop making jokes. We still have to train today. Let’s get busy.”

The military system of this dynasty was the guard station. Each region had several guard stations under its jurisdiction, and each station had a certain number of Qianhu and Baihu Commanders. The training simulated actual combat held regularly by each guard station to enhance the soldiers’ physical fitness and combat effectiveness.

“Yes.” Pei Yizhi and Zhao Junyi hurriedly agreed.

After leaving the guard station, Zhao Junyi looked at the unsusceptible man beside him, and suddenly, a plan came to his mind.

“Lord Prince Consort, let’s have a duel later during the training?”

He won first prize in the martial arts examination because of his skills. Pei Yizhi only relied on luck and nepotism, so he might lose to him in a duel.

Pei Yizhi glanced at him coldly without commenting and then strode away.

In Zhao Junyi’s eyes, his behavior had another meaning—Pei Yizhi was afraid of a duel with him! Zhao Junyi was confident. He rushed forward with a brisk step and wanted to attack from behind, forcing Pei Yizhi to fight him in a duel so that he could show his skills. Unexpectedly, Pei Yizhi seemed to have eyes behind him and threw him over his shoulder with lightning speed. He used a little force to move a heavy object without even breathing. With a loud bang, Zhao Junyi was smashed to the ground, causing a cloud of flying yellow sand.

“You——” Zhao Junyi fell to the ground and ate a mouthful of dirt, furious.

But Pei Yizhi didn’t care about his defeated subordinate and had already left in strides. Lord Liao witnessed the whole process through the window with a gloomy expression.

?

At the same time, in the Luhua Palace of the Imperial Palace. A beautiful mother and daughter held each other affectionately on the soft couch.

Li Kangning lazily nestled in her mother’s arms, opening her little mouth occasionally to accept her mother’s feeding. Because she was in her period, this plate of purple crystal gr*pes, chestnut kernels, and apricots was specially warmed up on the stove for a while.

“Mother, please pick a few more capable palace maids for me and let the Imperial Guard check them strictly before sending them to the Princess Mansion.” Li Kangning suddenly said.

This morning, when she was washing up, Zhi Lan whispered a few words in her ear while Pei Lan was getting a change of clothes. Last time in the school, Li Kangning vaguely noticed Pei Lan’s strangeness. Now, after hearing what Zhi Lan said, she became more alert.

Empress Kang was puzzled when she heard it, “What’s the matter? Is there not enough staff in the Princess Mansion?”

Li Kangning had no choice but to nod, “Besides the Princess Mansion, I still have so many girls’ schools. I still need a trusted confidant to manage them.”

Empress Kang immediately agreed, “Okay, Mother will carefully pick a few for you.” She was also proud of the dozens of girls’ schools her daughter had set up. At first, she thought her daughter was just making a fuss on a whim, but she didn’t expect that now there were more and more schools and that they were getting better and better.

“By the way, there was news from Yanfu Palace that the Second Prince’s wife was pregnant.” Empress Kang said with a smile.

Li Kangning was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, “Congratulations, Mother. You will be a grandmother again.”

Empress Kang pinched her little face, “Come to think of it, you and your husband have done it. He didn’t get his s*men into your body, did he?”

In the Guidance Book that she ordered people to give to her husband, it emphasized: “Never ej*culate into the female body.” But the husband was full of vigor and vitality, unsure whether he could follow it.

“Mother…” Li Kangning blushed with shame, “Why…”

“You are already married. Why are you embarra$sed.” Although she said so, Empress Kang’s face was also red.

“You are still young and don’t have to rush to have a child after getting married. I didn’t think of reminding your brother that your sister-in-law got pregnant early.”

Empress Kang still rem*mbered the scene of her eldest daughter-in-law’s difficult labor three years ago, and she was afraid every time she thought of it.

“He… never got in.” Li Kangning replied shyly with her head down.

Empress Kang was relieved and rubbed her daughter’s head. “Although this is not a perfect plan, it is better than getting in.”

The mother and daughter chatted briefly, then moved to the dining hall for lunch.

Li Kangning suddenly remembered something and asked softly, “Mother, what happened to me in Yan Mountain three years ago?”

“I remember the scene of painting the snowy scenery in Yan Mountain, but I always feel that there are some fragments that I haven’t remembered.”

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