The prince is more stable

Chapter 515: Reunion of Wife and Concubine
Fanglin Garden is located in the northwest of Bianjing. Starting from the Imperial Street, passing through the inner city's Qianghe Gate, and going around the outer west city.

As they approached Fanglin Garden, the carriage gradually slowed down, and Zhao Xiaoqian felt inexplicably nervous sitting in the carriage.

Maybe this is what it means to be homesick.

The carriage finally stopped at the gate of the house outside Fanglin Garden.

Zhao Xiaoqian got off the carriage, looked up at the closed door, and took a deep breath.

Just as he was about to step forward, he saw the side door of the house open and three graceful figures walked out.

They were none other than Di Ying, Jiang Miaoxian and Yuan'er.

The three women stood at the side door, looking at him with tears in their eyes. Zhao Xiaoqian was also smiling, and then opened his arms towards the three women.

The three girls sobbed, then flew over, ignoring the gazes of the surrounding imperial guards and passers-by, and dived into Zhao Xiaoqian's arms like a young swallow flying into the forest, crying bitterly.

"You cruel bastard, you've been gone for more than half a year. I'm afraid you've forgotten that you have wives and concubines at home?" Di Ying cried and pinched his waist hard.

Jiang Miaoxian said nothing, but bit his shoulder hard and refused to let go.

Zhao Xiaoqian struggled in pain, but couldn't get away with it, especially because Jiang Miaoxian's little mouth was so sharp that it bit his shoulder so hard that it hurt.

"Stop! Shut up!" Zhao Xiaoqian pushed Di Ying with his left hand and pinched Jiang Miaoxian's chin with his right hand: "If you hit me again, you will become widows!"

Raising his chin towards Yuan'er who was standing quietly beside him, Zhao Xiaoqian said, "You should all learn from Yuan'er. Look how quiet and gentle she is."

Di Ying's beautiful eyes flushed red as she glared at him, saying, "Yuan'er is timid. Do you think she doesn't want to bite you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian simply gritted his teeth, hugged the two violent women on his left and right, held them in his armpits like a bear trying to break a stick, and strode into the house.

It's so strange. He is obviously a weak and scholar-like man, but why can he hug his wife so easily? He can hug two at a time without any effort.

After entering the door, Zhao Xiaoqian put the two girls down, straightened his clothes in the front hall, and walked into the main hall with his head held high.

Mother Feng was sitting in the main hall, her eyes red as she smiled at Zhao Xiaoqian.

Zhao Xiaoqian approached and knelt on his knees, saying, "Mother, I am back."

Feng stood up and helped him up, looking him up and down. She saw that Zhao Xiaoqian seemed to have become much stronger, but his skin was darker than before. She couldn't help but wipe away her tears out of heartache.

"He's grown stronger, but also darker. Qian'er must have suffered a lot from the wind and sun guarding the border. Have you been hungry or cold in Zhending Prefecture for the past six months? Has he been sick?"

Zhao Xiaoqian felt warm in his heart. Everyone was in awe of him and talked about his achievements and glorious deeds. Only his mother did not ask about his achievements at all, but only cared about whether her children were hungry or cold.

"Don't worry, mother. I'm enjoying myself in Zhending Prefecture. It's like a vacation. I always leave things to the people below me. I just eat, drink and have fun. I only make decisions when it comes to big things. It's not hard at all."

Feng shook her head. "Don't lie to me. Don't forget I come from a prime minister's family. I know firsthand what it's like to be stationed on the frontier. It's a bitter, cold, barren land, with barely enough food to eat and barely enough clothes to wear. When I was young, I saw soldiers returning to the capital from border defense. They were all as destitute as beggars. Just one look at them made me realize how miserable they were."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled bitterly and said, "I have never suffered any hardship. Mother should know my character. Am I someone who endures hardship? In Zhending Prefecture, I ate bear paws for every meal. My life was like that of a god..."

Feng glared at him and said, "Nonsense! You're still eating bear paws for every meal. How many bears are there in Zhending Prefecture for you to eat? Well, I'm glad to see you're stronger than before. That's probably the only benefit of guarding the border."

Holding his hand, Feng's eyes were filled with anticipation: "You won't leave when you return to Beijing this time, right?"

Zhao Xiaoqian hesitated for a moment, but still smiled and said, "I have come back to serve my mother and will not leave."

Feng was very astute and caught the brief hesitation in his eyes. Her face stiffened for a moment, then she smiled and said, "It's good that you're not leaving. Come back and eat more, replenish your body, and rest for a while."

"Bianjing is still better after all. It's more prosperous than Zhending Prefecture. I'll stay at home for a few more days after I come back..."

As Feng spoke, she casually glanced at the three women beside her and said with a smile, "The most important thing is to have a few children with your wives and concubines as soon as possible. Offspring are a big deal and can't be delayed. You've been away from home for a long time, and your wives and concubines are getting older. You can't waste any more time."

The three girls turned away shyly, pretending they heard nothing.

Zhao Xiaoqian grinned and said, "Yes, my son will definitely work hard. I have set a task for myself: to give birth to eight children a year. After they are born, I will let my mother help me take care of them."

Feng scolded with a smile, "You're talking nonsense again. You have no sense at all! How can three women give birth to eight children in one year? Can you teach me?"

Di Ying, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but say, "Humph! Mother probably doesn't know, but the master has more than just the three of us wives and concubines. He's not idle while guarding the border in Zhending Prefecture. I heard he's taken in three more there, two of whom are sisters, and they're Japanese..."

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled and looked at her in astonishment.

When did this woman place spies around me?

So, is this the feeling of oppression from the first wife?

Feng frowned slightly upon hearing this and said, "Japanese? Qian'er, I don't mind you taking a concubine as your mother, but you'd better think twice about the daughter of a foreign barbarian." "Since the founding of our dynasty, I've heard that Japanese women along the coast often hire boats to cross the sea with Song men to reproduce. Qian'er, you must open your eyes and see clearly. Don't be fooled. After all, they are not of our race. I don't know what they are up to."

Zhao Xiaoqian coughed and said, "I've seen it clearly. Anyway... I didn't suffer any loss."

Feng said helplessly, "Forget it. You are now famous throughout the world and a respected hero of the Song Dynasty. You have your reasons for everything. I cannot say anything more. If your own flesh and blood are stranded in a foreign country in the future, I will see whether your ancestors in the afterlife will forgive you."

"Don't worry, mother. I am destined to have many children and grandchildren in this life. Living in a foreign country with a few of them is just the right opportunity for them to help me expand my territory."

Feng laughed: "You are still like this, talking nonsense. If outsiders hear you, they will laugh at you."

Glancing at the three women beside her, Feng chuckled and stood up, casually saying, "I'm old now, and I like quiet and peaceful times. I'm going to Laojun Hall to copy some scriptures to pray for you. It's a rare reunion for you two, so I'll let you have some private conversation. Dinner will be served in an hour, so don't miss the time."

With that, Feng left slowly.

Zhao Xiaoqian grinned. Although his mother was old, she still understood the ways of her children and knew how to leave some space for her son and daughter-in-law to be alone.

After Feng left, the three daughters of Di Ying immediately came over and looked at him with pouts of grievance.

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned: "What does this expression mean? Do I owe you money?"

"Sir, you don't owe us money, but you owe us your favor." Di Ying hugged his arm and said, "I'm afraid your thoughts are still on those three women in Zhending Prefecture. Are they serving you well?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said sternly, "You are my legal wife, so of course my thoughts are with you. During the days when I was away from home, you have been so filial to me. The military medals are half mine, and one-sixth of them are yours."

Di Ying's eyes widened immediately.

Zhao Xiaoqian hastily corrected himself, "You're the legal wife, so you deserve a bigger share. I'm wrong, but you should get at least one-third. Be more respectful. You're a person of status. The court has granted you an imperial decree, right? What rank was it?"

Jiang Miaoxian beside him chuckled and said angrily, "Master, you still say that your mind is on my sister, but you don't even know my sister's current status. She is not just a royal concubine, but the wife of a prince, which is higher than a first-rank royal concubine."

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.

Yes, I am a prince, so my wife is the princess of the county.

Zhao Xiaoqian then hurriedly bowed to Di Ying and said, "Congratulations! I hope you will be promoted. Remember to treat me to a feast later."

Di Ying's pretty face twitched slightly, and she also bowed and said, "I am happy for you. It's all thanks to you, sir. A wife is honored by her husband. I hope you will also be promoted step by step, so that I can continue to benefit from your success."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed sadly: "I'm already a prince, it might be difficult to get promoted again. I'll try my best..."

The three daughters of Di Ying burst into laughter, like three soft vines, wrapping around Zhao Xiaoqian.

Zhao Xiaoqian coughed and said, "Mother said that dinner is still an hour away. Madams, an hour is enough time to get a lot done. Let's find a quiet room and let me give you a detailed introduction to the customs and practices of Zhending Prefecture."

The three girls paused in laughter, then blushed, turned their heads away, covered their mouths, and kept silent.

"Why are you embarrassed? You're already an old married couple. I remember exactly where you have the birthmark. Why are you pretending it's your wedding night?"

Di Ying shyly hit him and said, "It's broad daylight, no! If my mother knew about this, would I still be able to live as a human being?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said bewilderedly, "Aren't we preparing to have children now? Mother has told us to have more children quickly, or our ancestors in the netherworld will not forgive me."

Di Ying rolled her eyes at him. "Master, you've only just returned to the capital today, and you're already so impatient... Humph! Didn't those three sisters from Zhending Prefecture serve you well?"

"It's not that urgent, it's just that I haven't seen you for half a year, and I'm a little nervous..."

"What are you worried about, sir?"

Zhao Xiaoqian coughed uncomfortably twice, then stroked Di Ying's flat abdomen with one hand and said, "The storytellers in the brothels tell a story about a husband who left home for three years and returned to find his wife had given birth to a big fat son, and they were celebrating the full moon..."

"Ma'am, such a ridiculous thing wouldn't happen to me, would it? Come, let me check..."

Di Ying and the other two girls were stunned. They pondered over the words for a long time before they understood the meaning. Then they flew into a rage. Di Ying and Jiang Miaoxian were not polite at all. Their fists rained down on him.

Yuan'er, who was standing timidly behind him, was originally the most timid, but she couldn't help it. She mustered up the courage to step forward, touched him lightly with her delicate little fists, and then flew away as if she had touched a tiger's butt.

Zhao Xiaoqian had a smile on his face and squinted his eyes as he enjoyed the pink fist massage from the three women.

Well, judging from their expressions, the three women should still have their own shapes.

Very good, let's consolidate the shape tonight.

(End of this chapter)