Little Cardamom

After about half a cup of tea, the figure standing in front of the sand table did not move at all, let alone respond. Ming Tan's heart was agitated, her hand holding the food box trembled slightly, her eyelashes fluttered, and she lifted it up little by little.

What reached his line of sight was the black figure that he had glimpsed earlier, tall and straight, with a tall stature, and looked slightly taller than Shu Er and Shen Yu by half an inch.

——It's not a reckless man with five big and three rough.

Ming Tan looked away very quickly, seeing that he had no intention of responding, he had to slow down, put the porcelain bowl on the table, and poured the lotus leaf porridge very slowly, thinking whether he could delay the time until he took the initiative Turn around so that she can see the face clearly. At the same time, she couldn't help raising her eyes, carefully peeking at the back of that figure.

But that figure from the back seemed to have made up his mind, he didn't move, and there was no sign of turning around.

Ming Tan is a little maid now, so it is impossible for her to talk for no reason, if she is dragged out and punished for talking too much, then there is really no reason for her.

After dawdling for a while, seeing that the porridge was about to be poured out, she was unwilling to do so, and sneaked back more and more frequently.

Suddenly, the figure moved, as if there was a sign of turning around, Ming Tan was so startled that the porridge almost spilled, he looked back in a panic, and lowered his head like a guilty conscience.

The person who came walked very slowly.

The distance from the sand table to the table was only three or four feet away, but she felt that it was more than half a cup of tea before the clothes and boots embroidered with dark patterns slowly approached and fell into her eyes.

Standing in front of the table, Jiang Xu casually glanced at the little maid who was standing by the table with her head bowed, opened her hem and sat down, took a sip of the lotus leaf porridge.

The hands of a marching man are naturally not very delicate. His palms are calloused, his fingertips are rough, and the back of his hand has new wounds from a recent sword practice. However, his hands are very beautiful, with wide palms and knuckles. Slender, with well-defined phalanges.

As Ming Tan watched, a heart rose to his throat, and he raised his eyelashes more slowly and subtly than before.

What catches the eye is first the overlapping collar of the coat, and then the neck, Adam's apple, chin, lips, nose, eyebrows and eyes—

It was a clean-cut, extremely handsome and flawless face. Sword eyebrows and star eyes, a straight nose and thin lips. Like the cold moon in the distant mountains, it is unstoppable. He was different from those soldiers she had seen before. In terms of appearance and demeanor, he was not inferior to the second son of Shu who was famous in Beijing, and even had a kind of...a sense of dignity as heavy as gold and cold jade.

Ming Tan was stunned.

Is this His Royal Highness King Dingbei?

Is... Is it a mistake?

As soon as the thought flashed by, someone pulled up the curtain and entered the account to explain her confusion.

"My lord, send a message from the palace."

The visitor kowtowed on one knee to report, and the conversation stopped for a moment. From the corner of his eye, he saw that the ignorant little maid in front had no intention of avoiding it, and the prince didn't seem to wave back, so he hesitated.

Jiang Xu raised his eyes, looked down at him and said calmly, "Say."

"Yes." The visitor bowed his head and clasped his hands, and continued, "There is a letter from the palace, the "On Encouraging the Army and Disciplining the Army" written by the prince, the Holy Majesty ordered the Hanlin Academy to copy it, and collated it with the several articles on the art of war written by the prince earlier. Into a book, I don't know what the prince has to say?"

"Just follow the holy will."

"Yes. Then... this subordinate will leave."

The visitor glanced at the little maid again.

But at this moment, the little maid was thinking: Can she still write articles? Although it is an art of war related to marching and fighting, it is a unique opinion to be able to come up with your own theory. It is normal for generals who lead troops to fight to have their own opinions on the art of war, but not all generals can express their opinions well.

Just like her father and her uncle, her father can barely say one, two, three, four after chasing Wen Shangya, but her uncle has a whole body of skills. It's not easy to explain clearly, so her future husband is quite—

"What are you still doing here?"

Ming Tan was engrossed in her thoughts, when suddenly a voice interrupted her, like the lotus leaf porridge soaked in the ice mirror, it has the coolness to cool off the heat.

She shivered, met that calm gaze for a moment in a panic, then hurriedly lowered her eyes, and softly confessed: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this servant will leave now."

She tidied up the empty bowls and food boxes unskillfully, and hurriedly blessed and left. When he turned around and went out, his steps were much faster than usual.

Jiang Xu glanced at her petite and thin back, then lowered his eyes to the director again, but he couldn't see any extra emotion.

"How's it going?" Bai Minmin hurriedly asked in a low voice when he got out of the tent and got a little further away.

Ming Tan pursed his lips and remained silent, his small face was still white with tension.

After meeting Shen Hua and leaving the Gyeonggi camp together, Bai Minmin was in a hurry, and turned around Ming Tan and said, "My little ancestor, you are telling me! What happened? Petrified?"

It was hot at noon, and Ming Tan's throat was a little dry. She relieved her nervousness, swallowed hard, and said: "It is... indeed very powerful."

"..."

It's over, it's really like a wild boar.

Bai Minmin's head buzzed for a few breaths, a white light seemed to flash in front of his eyes, standing under the sun, he was dizzy and swayed.

After a while, she came back to her senses, and suddenly pressed Ming Tan's shoulder again, comforting herself without knowing it: "Don't panic, don't panic! I'll find a way."

Bai Minmin has never been a very reliable person when it comes to thinking up ideas. At this moment, his mind is full of the scriptures of talented scholars and beauties that he has read before. thing.

She had a flash of inspiration, and hurriedly said: "Yes, why don't you go back and report to my father, and say that His Highness King Dingbei's description is ugly and vulgar. You really don't want to marry. I will grind my father with you and let him do it for you." You are considerate, just arrange another funeral by accidentally slipping and drowning!"

"It's just that, Atan, you may not be able to stay in Shangjing anymore. From now on, you will hide your name and go to a rich place in the south of the Yangtze River. Father will definitely find a good family for you, so that you will be rich and have no worries in this life." Up to this point, tears welled up in Bai Minmin's eyes, "Although it will be difficult to see each other in the future, this is also for the sake of your lifelong event. Wanwan and I are in the capital, and we will definitely miss you from time to time."

"Is the appearance serious, so vulgar...?" Shen Hua hesitated.

Bai Minmin: "That must be extremely vulgar, describing a wild boar—"

Ming Tan had been distracted thinking about that person's appearance and expression before, only to realize the word "appearance" that Shen Hua said, and retorted loudly without thinking: "Who says he is vulgar? Who says I don't?" Willing to marry? The position of Princess Dingbei must belong to this lady even if she dies!"

"...?"

Bai Minmin and Shen Hua were stunned for a moment by her refutation, and they couldn't help but look at each other.

Ming Tan didn't bother to explain: "Follow me to the Zhou Mansion."

"Go...to find Wanwan? Just dress like this?"

Ming Tan glanced at himself up and down, and almost forgot, she is still dressed as a maid, and it is not good for the girl to flaunt outside during the day. Either way, she was too impatient.

Thinking of this, Ming Tan changed his mind again. First, he went back to the mansion by the same route, then wrote another letter and sent it to Zhou Jingwan.

Waiting until dusk, Zhou Jingwan finally sent a little girl to the door, and brought a few pages of the newly transcribed "On Encouraging the Army and Solving the Army", and attached a comment from her father: "There is something in the words, new and not empty."

Uncle Zhou is a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. He is a talented minister, brilliant and extremely noble. To be able to make such an evaluation, it must be written very well.

Ming Tan's dinner was useless, so he couldn't wait to read this military theory first.

She didn't understand the formation of troops, but at least she could understand what was being written. Looking at its theories, the logic is meticulous and clear, the writing is concise and sharp, and every word and every word is pearly, which has a bit of the charm of pine and bamboo.

After reading it, Ming Tan's eyes still fell on the paper, reluctant to linger. At the end of the page, she found that Zhou Jingwan also attached a piece of paper, writing: "Father's words, new disciplines to select scholars, the topic of the Golden Temple's countermeasures issued by the Holy Majesty comes from His Royal Highness Dingbei Wang."

Can you give questions to the candidates?

That's a top-notch talent!

Joy spread quietly in Ming Tan's heart, he looked at what was said on the paper with his chin in his hand, and the corners of his lips even raised up unconsciously.

Her future husband-in-law has a noble status, is handsome, and has an extraordinary bearing, yet he is so talented!

"Miss, what are you laughing at?" Lu'e and Su Xin asked curiously while laying the table together.

Ming Tan didn't answer, but said cheerfully: "Bring the bronze mirror."

At this time, what do you need a bronze mirror for? Lv'e, with a foggy head, cleaned her hands, and hurried into the inner room to fetch a small bronze mirror.

Ming Tan took the mirror, looked left and right, and found that the past few days have been a little lighter, but it's better to be lighter, summer clothes are thin, so it will add a little softness of weak willows and wind, which is very good.

Before going to Gyeonggi Daying at noon, she thought very carefully. Firstly, in order to avoid being recognized by the prince in the future, and secondly, because the soldiers in the camp would see her as too beautiful, they thought she was a little girl deliberately trying to seduce the prince and prevent her from entering the tent, so she deliberately played ugly.

Of course, the ultimate ugliness she can accept is just to put on some yellowish powder to make herself look less fair.

After returning home, she washed and dressed again. At this moment, her smoky brows and star eyes, icy muscles and snowy features were clearly reflected in the mirror.

The beauty's complexion is delicate and delicate, which perfectly matches her future husband.

Ming Tan was satisfied.

Only Lue and Su Xin muttered to themselves, originally they only took a picture of grooming and grooming in the morning and evening, but now they also take pictures of meals? Shouldn't there be a small bronze mirror on the dining table?

Ming Tan said again: "Su Xin, tomorrow you go to the cashier to pay some money... That's all, it's my wish, so I should use my private house."

She changed her hand to rest her chin, and continued to order: "Take it from the dowry silver my mother left me, and add a thousand taels of incense oil to Lingmiao Temple, and then ask the abbot Master, for that day I will take you to worship." How much money does it cost to reshape the golden body of the Buddha in the previous treasure hall, just say, your lady has made a wish here, and if her wish is fulfilled, she will reshape the golden body of the Buddha, and the abbot, please don't refuse."

Su Xin: "A thousand...a thousand taels?"

"Is it missing?" Ming Tan vaguely heard Mrs. Pei mention that if you don't stay fast, you can usually go to the temple to pray for blessings and add fifty taels, and if you stay fast and rest, you can spend more than a hundred taels. But her wish came true, a thousand taels is really not much, "Why don't I add another thousand taels?"

Su Xin tactfully said: "Miss, it's not missing, Qianliang is already full of heart."

Although the dowry left by Mrs. Xian is extremely rich, when the young lady gets married, the Hou Mansion and Chang Guogong Mansion will definitely prepare another dowry, but her young lady is a loose hand, and the Dingbei Palace is so big, I don’t know what the situation will be. They all need to be taken care of by her young lady, so they should save some money for emergencies.

It's just that her young lady obviously didn't think so far-reaching at the moment, she explained the matter of fulfilling the vow, and she was so excited that she asked Lue to prepare a pen and ink, and she wanted to paint.

Su Xin and Lu Calyx advise: It is getting late, painting hurts the eyes, it is better to wait until tomorrow to go to the garden to paint.

After trying to persuade him, Ming Tan still remembered the matter of painting all the time, and rushed to the East Garden early the next morning. For several days, Ming Tan was painting and writing poems in the mansion, often lamenting something, the appearance in the paintings was not half as good as his real life, and the poems he wrote were not half satisfactory.

Su Xin Lue didn't know what her lady was going crazy at first, Lue wanted to ask, but Su Xin stopped her from asking. In the end, it was Ming Tan who couldn't help himself, and told them about this sneaky look.

Those soldiers didn't remember half a word about them, and my lady didn't remember the non-repetitive words when describing the appearance of the future uncle, but they just talked about it day and night, and the two of them knew that the future uncle's appearance His bearing is so handsome that he has reached the heart of his young lady.

It was rainy in the summer, and it was sunny for a few days, and suddenly there was thunder at night, and it was pouring rain the next day when I woke up. Originally, Ming Tan invited Zhou Jingwan and Shen Hua to the East Garden to paint and make some pretense. But today obviously not.

Ming Tan was bored in the room, thinking of her father taking a bath today, and seeing that the rain outside was getting lighter, she ordered Su Xin to prepare a portion of almond cheese, took an umbrella and went to the study to greet her father.

Ming Tan is quite good at speaking, so he only tactfully introduced the topic to her future husband-in-law, and Ming Tingyuan began to talk about the great achievements of His Royal Highness King Dingbei with great interest.

Speaking of autumn hunting in the sixth year of Chunxing, Emperor Chengkang, who was still the prince at that time, was attacked in the forest and was surrounded and killed by several dead men. At the critical moment, he rushed into the siege alone, was seriously injured, but protected the prince with his own strength, and used the death penalty to find out the murderer of the siege from the mouths of the remaining dead.

Ming Tan cupped his face and exclaimed: "There is love and righteousness, no wonder the Holy Majesty trusts him more than him!"

Let's talk about the servant minister of the household department who was greedy for Mo's military salary two years ago. He came back from the battlefield by chance. Not to be confused by the stunning twin sisters, he personally tried and judged the crimes, and supervised and beheaded all the servants of the household department.

Ming Tan's eyes glowed, and he echoed: "It's really bloody!"

…

Ming Tingyuan spoke with great joy, and Ming Tan also had a great time listening to it.

The news that the little lady had a good talk with Lord Hou and his daughter quietly spread to the mansion. Ming Chu stomped his feet angrily, and brushed off the teacup on the table; Seeing some clear intentions, he played the fan lightly, but smiled and said nothing.

In the afternoon, Ming Tingyuan talked so dry that he drank four or five bowls of tea and went to the toilet twice. After he finished speaking, he let out a long breath, his voice was already a little hoarse.

Ming Tan obediently added tea for him, and ordered the girl waiting outside the house to bring some pear soup to soothe his throat.

After giving the order, she said inadvertently: "By the way, Daddy, the imperial decree that His Majesty bestowed on the marriage was taken away by my daughter, but she always felt that it was inappropriate and afraid of losing it, and she couldn't sleep well at night. My daughter thought, or should I send it to you?" Daddy will keep it for good."

"The decree given to you, of course, is yours to keep."

Ming Tan covered his lips, and said in a reserved and soft voice: "So, my daughter is afraid that she will be afraid until her wedding day, but... I don't know when is the auspicious date proposed by the Ministry of Rites?"